Synonyms for Sorry
Definition of sorry
adjective
- feeling or expressing regret or sorrow or a sense of loss over something done or undone; "felt regretful over his vanished youth"; "regretful over mistakes she had made"; "he felt bad about breaking the vase"
- bad; unfortunate; "my finances were in a deplorable state"; "a lamentable decision"; "her clothes were in sad shape"; "a sorry state of affairs"
- without merit; "a sorry horse"; "a sorry excuse"; "a lazy no- count, good-for-nothing goldbrick"; "the car was a no-good piece of junk"
20 synonyms found
Writing tips for "sorry"
Choosing the right synonym depends on context, tone, and audience. Words like bad, cheerless, compassionate can replace "sorry" depending on the shade of meaning you need. In poetry and songwriting, swapping synonyms lets you match a rhyme scheme or meter without changing your meaning. In prose, varying your word choice avoids repetition and keeps readers engaged.
With 20 alternatives available, "sorry" gives you flexibility across registers — from formal to casual, from literary to conversational. Try pairing these synonyms with our rhyme finder to discover words that both mean and sound like what you need.
"Sorry" in song lyrics
See how sorry is used in real songs:
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"JAMIE, I killed the robots and I'm sorry"
Aesop Rock — 1 of 4 (Thank You) -
"A glance along tomorrow, sorry"
Aesop Rock f/ Dose One — Drawbridge -
"Herc, DMC, Moe Dee. I'm sorry"
Annakin Slayd — Rhythm's Last Stand