apologetic

C2+ Topic:War & Conflict
US /əˌpɑləˈdʒɛtɪk/ UK /əˌpɒləˈdʒɛtɪk/
adj

Meanings

  1. 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

Etymology

From Greek apologētikos ('suited for defense'), from apologeisthai ('to speak in defense'), from apo- ('from') + logos ('speech').

View etymology graph ->

Topics

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