Definitions

apology

[uh-pol-uh-jee] / əˈpɒl ə dʒi /

NOUN

offering of remorse, regret

Synonyms

STRONGEST

acknowledgment admission amends atonement concession confession excuse explanation justification plea redress reparation

STRONG

defense extenuation mitigation vindication

WEAK

mea culpa

Antonyms

STRONGEST

denial refusal repudiation

WEAK

accusation censure charge complaint condemnation criticism defiance indictment

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But a warranted apology from Candace Owens does not redeem her.

From Salon • May 23, 2026

In his memoir, Pratt said he filmed an apology for the show, but only because MTV offered him payment for it.

From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2026

"It's in the right direction, but it's not going to fix it all," she told local media before the apology.

From BBC • May 19, 2026

Citadel CEO Ken Griffin sued the IRS, and his settlement involved a formal apology from the federal government.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

Why did that feel so much more disappointing than having to make the apology in the first place?

From "Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody" by Patrick Ness

Vocabulary lists containing apology

Two-Faced Words: Contronyms

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

List 1

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

List 2

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!