Apology
What it means
A sincere expression of regret for causing harm or offense.
Reach for it when naming accountable words that acknowledge a specific wrong
His direct apology opened the way to renewed trust.
Words to choose between 6
| playful | |
|---|---|
| everyday | |
| warm |
|
| professional | |
| formal |
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playful
mea culpa
Fits when a concise admission of personal fault suits an informed informal audience
Careful The Latin phrase can sound glib and may trivialize serious harm.
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everyday
regret
Fits when sorrow about an outcome is all that can honestly be stated
Careful Regret can remain private and does not acknowledge harm to another person.
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warm
Fits when actions repair the harm after words have been offered
Careful Amends go beyond an apology and cannot be substituted for one sincere statement.
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professional
Fits when the first need is to name what happened
Careful Acknowledgment may name the facts without carrying any regret.
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formal
confession
Fits when hidden wrongdoing is being admitted
Careful Confession reveals responsibility but can be self-serving and is not necessarily an apology.
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formal
contrition
Fits when deep remorse is the inner response
Careful Contrition is an inward feeling; the harmed person may never receive an apology.
Opposites 3
- justification
- denial
- defiance
Common phrases 3
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sincere apology
A sincere apology named the damaged trust without asking for quick forgiveness.
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offer an apology
The director will offer an apology before explaining the repair plan.
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public apology
Her public apology corrected the false claim in the same forum.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Neskaya, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Updated