Synonyms for apology
Most common
excuse plea acknowledgement UK apologia confession justification amends reparation
All synonyms
Noun
excuse, apologia, acknowledgement UK, acknowledgment US, plea, confession, reparation, amends, justification, defense US, defence UK, palliation, extenuation, amende honorable, apologism
Definitions
- n. 1
An expression of remorse or regret for having said or done something that harmed another: an instance of apologizing (saying that one is sorry).
The CEO made a public apology for the scandal, and promised full cooperation with the authorities.
Related words
- Word family
- apologize apologism apologist apologetic apologia
- Phrases
- nonapology apology
Forms
- Plural
- apologies → excuses, apologiae, acknowledgements, pleas…
Choose the right word
Apology has undergone a remarkable change from its old sense of a valiant defense--as in Justin Martyr's Apologies for the Christian faith--to its present meaning of humble confession and concession. He who offers an apology admits himself, at least technically and seemingly, in the wrong.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- excuse Excuse me, but where is the men's shoe department?
- plea Sami took a plea deal to have charges reduced.
- acknowledgement This is a small acknowledgement of your kindness.
- confession Sami went to the authorities to make a confession.
- justification There can be no justification for harming a child.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| apology | rising | |
| excuse | rising | |
| plea | falling | |
| acknowledgement | rising | |
| apologia | steady | |
| confession | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- plea1
- 6 letters
- excuse2, amends2
- 7 letters
- defense2, defence2
- 8 letters
- apologia
- 9 letters
- apologism
- 10 letters
- confession3, reparation4, palliation
- 11 letters
- extenuation
- 13 letters
- justification5
- 14 letters
- acknowledgment4
- 15 letters
- acknowledgement4
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (excuse2 = 2 syllables).