1
as in lame
arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust
one more sorry stunt like that and you'll be fired
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sad
causing unhappiness
we have sorry news to report tonight
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in pathetic
deserving pitying scorn (as for inadequacy)
the ragtag circus was a sorry spectacle indeed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in ashamed
feeling sorrow for a wrong that one has done
she's genuinely sorry for hurting his feelings
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in unhappy
feeling unhappiness
was sorry to see the family farm being sold
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in heartbroken
expressing or suggesting mourning
those sorry rituals that we go through when somebody dies are not for the dead but for the living
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in poor
deserving of one's pity
some sorry wretch had the task of putting all of those files back in order
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sorry
The subway system’s fleet of work-train locomotives is in a sorry state, the Daily News has learned, with nearly two-thirds of the system’s 115 locomotives out of service as of Monday.
—
Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 2 Mar. 2026
As one of the stars of gay hockey smut — sorry, show — Heated Rivalry, Storrie’s overnight catapult into the spotlight has bestowed upon him a rabid fanbase of horny women.
—Rima Parikh, Vulture, 1 Mar. 2026
Customers Mari Acero and William Cormier, who work at Club Space’s offices across the street, are sorry to see Las Palmas go.
—Miami Herald, 1 Mar. 2026
Unrivaled will be a sequel to Heated Rivalry and The Long Game, which both focus on hockey players Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, rival professional players turned lovers (sorry, Shane).
—Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sorry
Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 2 Mar. 2026
As one of the stars of gay hockey smut — sorry, show — Heated Rivalry, Storrie’s overnight catapult into the spotlight has bestowed upon him a rabid fanbase of horny women.
—Rima Parikh, Vulture, 1 Mar. 2026
Customers Mari Acero and William Cormier, who work at Club Space’s offices across the street, are sorry to see Las Palmas go.
—Miami Herald, 1 Mar. 2026
Unrivaled will be a sequel to Heated Rivalry and The Long Game, which both focus on hockey players Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, rival professional players turned lovers (sorry, Shane).
—Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sorry
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sorry
Adjective
-
Smith said the legislation could pass in December, during the lame-duck session of Congress that will follow November’s midterm elections, but that the coming days are critical.—
Jeff John Roberts,
Fortune,
6 Mar. 2026
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Maybe that’s a lame hook, but that, combined with the return of reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, gets them back in their spot.—
Law Murray,
New York Times,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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In a weirdly serendipitous bit of cinema news, Billie Eilish—queen of melancholy pop—is turning her sad eyes to Sylvia Plath.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
12 Mar. 2026
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Resident reactions Some residents are sad to see the cemetery go.—
Briah Lumpkins,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Of course, the notes turn out to mostly be about her as well as the principal (played by Gosling), detailing their most pathetic behaviors.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
8 Mar. 2026
-
The pathetic leaks didn’t work.—
Lea Veloso,
StyleCaster,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Many parents feel ashamed to ask for help, but reaching out builds connection and shows strength, not failure.—
Melissa Willets,
Parents,
3 Mar. 2026
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The mom finally revealed that her daughter was taking weight loss supplements but had been too ashamed to say so.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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MacFarlane is also said to have faced personal threats from MAGA supporters unhappy with his coverage of the Justice Department.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Earlier this season, Marchment struggled mightily — and seemed plenty unhappy — with the Seattle Kraken, but his trade to the Blue Jackets in late December revitalized his season.—
Harman Dayal,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Also up for sale is a 13-page affidavit filed by Paul McCartney in December 1970 to break up The Beatles, leaving fans heartbroken.—
Adam Reiss,
NBC news,
11 Mar. 2026
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An 83-year-old Air Force veteran pushed onto the subway tracks by a stranger at an Upper East Side station in a random act of violence is unlikely to survive, his heartbroken daughter told the Daily News Tuesday.—
Roni Jacobson,
New York Daily News,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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City officials say the long-term leases make buying Liberty Station a poor investment for any potential buyer other than Seligman.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
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Further, according to the paper, when supply tightens, richer nations outbid poorer ones for scarce shipments, exacerbating challenges for vulnerable economies.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Granted, those three performances were pitiful.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Gallup reached only 50,000 people, a pitiful fraction of The Literary Digest’s awe-inspiring mailbag.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
21 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sorry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sorry. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
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