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.

For fans, the special is not an apology, it's a reassertion - of his voice and his refusal to be flattened.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

Connecticut women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma issued a second apology Tuesday night for his behavior after the Huskies’ loss to South Carolina in the Final Four last week.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

The Church of England is planning to issue an apology for its role in historical forced adoption, the BBC has learned.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

The unexpected appreciation resulted from Lee’s apology Monday over South Koreans having flown drones into North Korean airspace.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

“Mom, I can’t explain everything right now,” Benji said, decidedly not taking the apology route.

From "Millionaires for the Month" by Stacey McAnulty

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!