apol·o·get·ic
ə-ˌpä-lə-ˈje-tik 
1
: feeling or showing regret : regretfully acknowledging fault or failure : expressing an apology
They were apologetic about the error.
We received an apologetic letter.
an apologetic smile/tone
2
: offered in defense or vindication
the apologetic writings of the early Christians
Synonyms
Examples of apologetic in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Andrew R. Chow, TIME, 31 Oct. 2024
The resulting track is at once swaggering and apologetic.
—Tom Roland, Billboard, 18 Sep. 2024
Mara Reinstein, Rolling Stone, 30 July 2024
Soon after, what would normally be a postgame handshake between head coaches became a testy scene in which Falcons coach Arthur Smith could be seen angrily asking an apologetic Allen for an explanation.
—Brett Martel, USA TODAY, 7 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for apologetic 
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Adjective
Lanez recorded an apologetic phone call to Pete’s friend that night from jail, but later denied shooting her.
—Andrew R. Chow, TIME, 31 Oct. 2024
The resulting track is at once swaggering and apologetic.
—Tom Roland, Billboard, 18 Sep. 2024
Noun
For the climactic moment when Harold and Kumar finally make it to White Castle (and an apologetic Harris pays for their burgers), the production design team had to get creative.
—Mara Reinstein, Rolling Stone, 30 July 2024
Soon after, what would normally be a postgame handshake between head coaches became a testy scene in which Falcons coach Arthur Smith could be seen angrily asking an apologetic Allen for an explanation.
—Brett Martel, USA TODAY, 7 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for apologetic
Dictionary Entries Near apologetic
Cite this Entry
“Apologetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apologetic. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.
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