Apologetic: meaning, definitions and examples

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apologetic

 

[ əˌpɒl.əˈdʒet.ɪk ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

in a formal setting

feeling or expressing regret or remorse for a mistake or offense

Synonyms

regretful, remorseful, sorry

Examples of usage

  • She offered an apologetic smile after realizing her error.
  • His apologetic tone indicated his sincere apology for the misunderstanding.
Context #2 | Adjective

in a casual conversation

showing that you are sorry for having caused someone problems or unhappiness

Synonyms

contrite, penitent, repentant

Examples of usage

  • He gave her an apologetic look when he accidentally spilled his drink on her.
  • The apologetic tone of his voice indicated his regret for the inconvenience.

Translations

Translations of the word "apologetic" in other languages:

🇵🇹 desculpando

🇮🇳 माफी मांगने वाला

🇩🇪 entschuldigend

🇮🇩 meminta maaf

🇺🇦 вибачливий

🇵🇱 przepraszający

🇯🇵 謝罪の

🇫🇷 excuse

🇪🇸 disculpándose

🇹🇷 özür dileyen

🇰🇷 사과하는

🇸🇦 معتذر

🇨🇿 omlouvající se

🇸🇰 ospravedlňujúci sa

🇨🇳 道歉的

🇸🇮 opravičujoč se

🇮🇸 afsökunarbeiðandi

🇰🇿 кешірім сұраушы

🇬🇪 მოძველებული

🇦🇿 üzr istəyən

🇲🇽 disculpándose

Etymology

The word 'apologetic' originated from the Greek word 'apologetikos', meaning 'defensible'. It first appeared in English in the early 17th century. Over time, its meaning evolved to refer to expressing regret or remorse. The term is commonly used in various contexts to convey a sense of apology or regret.

See also: apologetically, apologizing.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #17,637, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.