apologetic C2+ Topic:War & Conflict US /əˌpɑləˈdʒɛtɪk/ UK /əˌpɒləˈdʒɛtɪk/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 adj expressing or showing regret; offered in defence of something She gave an apologetic smile for arriving late. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 adj · expressing or showing... contriteregretfulremorsefulsorrypenitent ↔ Opposites unrepentantdefiantunapologetic Word family Derived forms apologeticallyapologetics Related forms apologyapologizeapologiaapologist Etymology AI details From Greek apologētikos ('suited for defense'), from apologeisthai ('to speak in defense'), from apo- ('from') + logos ('speech'). apologētikós Ancient Greek lógos Ancient Greek View etymology graph -> Topics War & Conflict Word Formation & Derivatives External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # apologetic **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** adj **IPA (US):** /əˌpɑləˈdʒɛtɪk/ **IPA (UK):** /əˌpɒləˈdʒɛtɪk/ ## Meanings 1. expressing or showing regret; offered in defence of something ## Examples - She gave an apologetic smile for arriving late. ## Synonyms - contrite - regretful - remorseful - sorry - penitent ## Antonyms - unrepentant - defiant - unapologetic ## Derived Forms - apologetically - apologetics ## Related Forms - apology - apologize - apologia - apologist ## Roots and Affixes - Root: apologētikós - Root: lógos ## Etymology From Greek apologētikos ('suited for defense'), from apologeisthai ('to speak in defense'), from apo- ('from') + logos ('speech'). ## AI Etymology Apologetic is an adjective meaning "expressing or showing regret; offered in defence of something". Historically, it is from Greek apologētikos ('suited for defense'), from apologeisthai ('to speak in defense'), from apo- ('from') + logos ('speech'). The visible construction is part of the etymology: apologetic is not just an unanalyzed simple word. The historical chain links Ancient Greek apologētikós with Ancient Greek lógos. Close English family members include apologetically, apologetics, apology, apologize, and apologia. ## Topics - War & Conflict - Word Formation & Derivatives markdown