What is the best to say sorry?
Asked by: Chandler O'Hara Jr. | Last update: October 6, 2025Score: 5/5 (20 votes)
Saying the words “I'm sorry” or “I apologize” is non-negotiable in any decent apology, big or small. Avoid terms like “I regret” or “I feel really bad about what happened.” For bigger infractions, explicitly saying what you're apologizing for and why it was wrong helps you take accountability.
What is the best thing to say sorry?
- I'm so/very/terribly sorry
- How stupid/careless/thoughtless of
- That's my fault
- My bad / my mistake
- Oops / whoops
- Please don't be mad at me
- I messed up / I screwed up
- I messed up / I screwed up
What is the best message for "sorry"?
- “I feel horrible and never meant to upset you, please accept my most sincere apology.”
- “I am contrite for hurting you so deeply, my sweet love. ...
- “I feel bad for making you sad. ...
- “You are the best person in my life and I feel extremely embarrassed for hurting you.
What is the perfect apology?
An effective apology both acknowledges responsibility and expresses remorse. Statements such as "I am very sorry," "How can I make up for this?" and "I won't ever do that again" are examples of the ways in which we can admit that we are at fault and that we regret our actions.
What is better than saying sorry?
- I appreciate you.
- Thank you.
- Excuse me.
- Thank you for providing this information. I'm still unclear on xyz, please expand on this.
- Thanks for catching that! Or ``Good catch!''
The best way to apologize (according to science)
What is a strong word for sorry?
sorry (adjective as in remorseful, regretful) Strongest matches. apologetic contrite regretful remorseful touched. Weak matches. attritional compunctious conscience-stricken guilt-ridden melted penitent penitential repentant self-accusing self-condemnatory self-reproachful shamefaced softened.
How do you truly say sorry?
- Say you're sorry. ...
- Say what it is that you're apologizing for. ...
- Show you understand why it was bad, take ownership, and show that you understand why you caused hurt.
- Don't make excuses.
- Say why it won't happen again. ...
- If it's relevant, make reparations: "I'm going to pay for the dry cleaning.
What is the most sincere form of apology?
A sincere and effective apology is one that communicates genuine empathy, remorse, and regret as well as a promise to learn from your mistakes. In other words, you need to really believe you did something wrong and feel sorry for the hurt you caused.
What not to say in an apology?
The word “but” negates what you said just prior to it. It minimizes the impact of a genuine apology. It's like saying, “I know that you were hurt, but it wasn't really that bad.
How to apologize to someone you hurt deeply?
- Tell the person you're sorry for what you did, even if it wasn't on purpose.
- Own what you did without trying to explain it away. It takes away from an apology if you follow up with an excuse or explanation for why you did what you did.
- Let them know you regret it.
How do you say a perfect sorry message?
- I am not perfect, I make mistakes, I hurt people but when I am sorry, I mean it!
- I lost your smile because of my silly acts. I spoiled your mood and your wonderful day. I am really sorry, please forgive me.
How to beg your man for forgiveness?
- Admit what you did that was wrong. Acknowledge your loved one was wronged and you were at fault. ...
- Explain what you did wrong. ...
- Correct what you did wrong, if you can, with follow-up actions. ...
- Give some space and time.
What is the most elegant way to say sorry?
- I can't apologize enough.
- Please accept my sincerest apologies.
- I am at fault and take full responsibility.
- Please forgive me.
- I'm regretful.
What is a heartfelt apology?
You want to convey that you truly feel sorry and care about the person who was hurt, and promise to make amends, including by taking steps to avoid similar mishaps going forward as in the examples below.
What is a good sorry quote?
I am sorry for letting you down, but I promise to erase your frowns. Apologizing does not always mean that you're wrong and the other person is right. It just means that you value your relationship more than your ego. I'm sorry for being so annoying and demanding, for the things that I did the wrong way.
What is an example of a good apology?
"I'm sorry for the comment I made yesterday. It was thoughtless and hurtful, and I can see why it upset you. I didn't mean to make you feel undervalued. I love and respect you, and it's important to me that you feel cared for in our relationship.
How to say sorry in a unique way?
- 1 My apologies. My apologies is another word for “I'm sorry.” It's rather formal, so it's fine for business contexts. ...
- 2 Pardon/pardon me/I beg your pardon. Pardon is a verb which means to allow as a courtesy. ...
- 3 Excuse me. ...
- 4 Mea culpa. ...
- 5 Oops/whoops. ...
- 6 My bad.
What's the difference between I'm sorry and I apologize?
The word sorry is used to express the personal feeling of regret or sympathy. The word apology is used in a more formal tone when something wrong is done. One might be or not be sorry while apologising.
How to say sorry genuinely?
Actually use the words “I'm sorry” or “I apologize.” Name or specify the infraction you're apologizing for. Show you understand why your actions were harmful and hurtful, and the effect it had on the other person. Don't make excuses, but offer an explanation if needed.
How to prove you're sorry over text?
“In a text, you just say very specifically what you're apologizing for, that you understand the impact of what you did must have been very unpleasant, and why it won't happen again,” says McCarthy. This kind of easy-to-understand statement is the basis of all good apologies, whether digital or face-to-face.
How to apologize for ghosting someone?
Advice from Licht: “If you've ghosted on someone… reach out and acknowledge that you dropped the ball, and apologize – don't make excuses and don't expect anything in return. We've all gone frozen at one time or another, for reasons that make sense and sometimes don't make sense.
How do you apologize to someone you hurt deeply?
- Step 1: Acknowledge your partner's hurt/anger. Example: I recognize that you feel upset...
- Step 2: Apologize for what you said or did. ...
- Step 3: Briefly explain your own motives and perspective. ...
- Step 4: Apologize again. ...
- Step 1: Listen. ...
- Step 2: Receive. ...
- Step 3: Believe. ...
- Step 4: Accept.