15 Other Ways to Say “Sorry” (With Examples)

Apologizing is a fundamental part of human interaction, but the overuse of the word “sorry” can sometimes make it lose its sincerity or impact. In many situations, other ways to say “sorry” can convey the same sentiment with added depth, emotion, or formality. Expanding your vocabulary for expressing regret or apology not only enhances your communication but also ensures your message is received with authenticity and clarity.

In this post, we’ll explore 15 alternatives to “sorry,” complete with explanations and examples, to help you adapt your apology to the specific context. Whether you need to express heartfelt remorse, admit to a mistake, or simply smooth over a misunderstanding, these expressions—from the formal “I sincerely apologize” to the casual “My bad”—offer effective ways to communicate your feelings.

What to Say Instead of “Sorry”

Here are 15 ways to say “Sorry”:

1. I apologize.
2. My bad.
3. I regret that.
4. Forgive me.
5. Pardon me.
6. I beg your pardon.
7. Please excuse me.
8. My deepest regrets.
9. Mea culpa.
10. I didn’t mean to.
11. That’s on me.
12. I’m at fault.
13. My sincerest apologies.
14. I owe you an apology.
15. I was wrong.

1. I Apologize

“I apologize” is a formal way to express regret or remorse. It’s commonly used in professional or serious situations where an apology is warranted. The phrase communicates accountability and sincerity, making it ideal for contexts requiring tact and professionalism.

While it lacks the emotional warmth of “I’m sorry,” its straightforward nature makes it effective when clarity and formality are priorities.

Usage Examples:

• Suppose you missed an important deadline at work. You could say: “I apologize for not meeting the deadline; I take full responsibility and will ensure it doesn’t happen again.”
• Imagine you accidentally interrupted someone during a meeting. You might say: “I apologize for cutting you off earlier; please continue.”
• If you sent the wrong invoice to a client. You could say: “I apologize for the error in the invoice; I’ve sent a corrected version for your review.”

2. My Bad

“My bad” is a casual and informal way to admit fault or responsibility. It’s commonly used among friends, family, or peers to acknowledge a minor mistake or oversight. While it conveys accountability, its lighthearted tone makes it less suitable for serious or formal situations.

Usage Examples:

• Suppose you spilled some water while reaching for something at dinner. You could say: “My bad! Let me clean that up right away.”
• Imagine you gave the wrong directions to a friend. You might say: “My bad for sending you the wrong way! I’ll double-check next time.”
• If you forgot to include someone in a group message. You could say: “My bad for leaving you out of the group chat—I’ll add you right now.”

3. I Regret That

“I regret that” is a thoughtful and introspective way to express remorse. It’s particularly effective when acknowledging actions or decisions that led to unintended consequences. The phrase carries a tone of accountability and reflection, making it suitable for both personal and professional settings.

Usage Examples:

• Suppose you couldn’t attend a family gathering because of work. You might say: “I regret that I couldn’t make it to the family dinner—I missed seeing everyone.”
• If you gave feedback that was harsher than intended. You could say: “I regret that my feedback came across as too critical—it wasn’t my intention.”
• Imagine you forgot an important birthday. You could say: “I regret that I forgot your birthday—I’ll make it up to you.”

4. Forgive Me

“Forgive me” is a direct and heartfelt way to ask for pardon. It’s often used in emotional or personal contexts where the apology needs to convey sincerity and vulnerability. This phrase works well when seeking forgiveness for more significant mistakes or offenses.

Usage Examples:

• Suppose you accidentally upset your partner during an argument. You might say: “Forgive me for saying those hurtful things—I didn’t mean them.”
• If you forgot an important commitment with a friend. You could say: “Forgive me for missing our lunch date—it completely slipped my mind.”
• Imagine you raised your voice at a colleague during a stressful moment. You might say: “Forgive me for losing my temper earlier—I’ll handle it better next time.”

5. Pardon Me

“Pardon me” is a polite and formal way to acknowledge a minor misstep, such as interrupting or causing inconvenience. It’s commonly used in public or professional settings to maintain decorum while expressing regret.

Usage Examples:

• If you accidentally step on someone’s foot in a crowded subway. You could say: “Pardon me! I didn’t mean to step on your foot.”
• Suppose you need to interrupt a conversation to excuse yourself. You might say: “Pardon me, but I need to take this call—it’s urgent.”
• Imagine you sneeze during a quiet lecture. You could say: “Pardon me for the interruption.”

6. I Beg Your Pardon

“I beg your pardon” is an elegant and old-fashioned phrase that can be used to apologize or request clarification. While formal, it’s often used in polite society to express regret for minor social errors.

Usage Examples:

• Suppose you misheard what someone said during a meeting. You could say: “I beg your pardon; could you repeat the last point for clarity?”
• Imagine you accidentally interrupt a formal conversation. You might say: “I beg your pardon for interrupting—I didn’t realize you were still speaking.”
• If you brush past someone in a crowded space. You could say: “I beg your pardon for bumping into you.”

7. Please Excuse Me

“Please excuse me” is a courteous way to seek forgiveness for minor inconveniences or mistakes. It’s often used in formal or polite contexts and is effective for softening the impact of an apology.

Usage Examples:

• If you need to leave a meeting early. You might say: “Please excuse me for stepping out early—I have another appointment.”
• Suppose you need to reach someone at the dinner table. You could say: “Please excuse me while I grab the salt.”
• Imagine you make a small mistake during a presentation. You could say: “Please excuse me; I misspoke earlier, and here’s the correct information.”

8. My Deepest Regrets

“My deepest regrets” is a profound and sincere way to express sorrow. It’s often used in emotional or serious situations, such as offering condolences or acknowledging a grave mistake.

Usage Examples:

• Suppose you’re sending condolences to someone who has lost a loved one. You might say: “My deepest regrets for your loss—you and your family are in my thoughts.”
• If you missed an important family milestone. You could say: “My deepest regrets for not being there at your graduation—it truly means a lot to me.”
• Imagine you made a decision that negatively impacted others. You might say: “My deepest regrets for the inconvenience caused by my choice—I’ll do better moving forward.”

9. Mea Culpa

“Mea culpa,” a Latin phrase meaning “my fault,” is a sophisticated way to admit responsibility. It’s often used in formal or rhetorical contexts to acknowledge a mistake while adding an intellectual or humorous tone.

Usage Examples:

• If you made a typo in a report. You could say: “Mea culpa for the typo on page three—I’ve already fixed it.”
• Suppose you forgot to bring the snacks to a group meeting. You might say: “Mea culpa! I left the snacks at home, but I’ll run back to get them now.”
• If you made a poor judgment call at work. You could say: “Mea culpa for misjudging the situation—I’ll take steps to improve.”

10. I Didn’t Mean To

“I didn’t mean to” is a casual and straightforward way to express unintentional actions that may have caused harm or inconvenience. It’s often used in informal settings to clarify that any offense or mistake was accidental.

Usage Examples:

• Suppose you accidentally bump into someone while carrying a tray of coffee at a busy café. You could say: “I didn’t mean to bump into you; the café is so crowded, and I couldn’t see clearly!”
• Imagine you made an offhand comment that unintentionally hurt your friend’s feelings during a group chat. You could say: “I didn’t mean to hurt you with that comment—it was just a joke, and I should’ve been more careful.”
• Let’s say you forgot to inform your colleague about a meeting change, and they missed it. You might say: “I didn’t mean to leave you out of the loop; I genuinely thought everyone had been updated.”

11. That’s on Me

“That’s on me” is an informal and accountable way to take responsibility for a mistake. It’s often used among friends, colleagues, or peers to acknowledge fault in a casual yet sincere manner.

Usage Examples:

• Suppose you are the team leader, and a key project deadline was missed because of poor planning. You could say: “That’s on me; I underestimated how long this phase would take. I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
• Imagine you borrowed your roommate’s laptop and forgot to plug it back in to charge. You might say: “That’s on me—I forgot to plug your laptop back in. I’ll make it up to you.”
• If you overslept and arrived late to pick up a friend for an important appointment. You could say: “That’s on me for not setting an alarm. I’m so sorry for making us late.”

12. I’m at Fault

“I’m at fault” is a direct and formal way to accept responsibility for a mistake or wrongdoing. It conveys a strong sense of accountability, making it effective in both professional and personal contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Suppose a customer complains about receiving the wrong order at a restaurant. You could say: “I’m at fault for mixing up your order. Let me fix this immediately for you.”
• Imagine you had an argument with a friend and later realized you misinterpreted their words. You could say: “I’m at fault for not listening properly; I should’ve given you the benefit of the doubt.”
• If a system failure occurred at work because you didn’t double-check some settings. You might say: “I’m at fault for not double-checking the configurations. I’ll address it right away.”

13. My Sincerest Apologies

“My sincerest apologies” is a formal and deeply respectful way to express regret.

It conveys a genuine sense of remorse and is often used in professional or serious situations where maintaining a polite and earnest tone is essential. This phrase is particularly appropriate for acknowledging significant mistakes or offering apologies in formal correspondence.

Usage Examples:

• Suppose you missed an important meeting with a client due to an unexpected delay. You could write: “My sincerest apologies for missing today’s meeting; I take full responsibility for the delay and will ensure it doesn’t happen again.”
• Imagine you accidentally misplaced an item someone lent you. You could say: “My sincerest apologies for misplacing your book—I’ll replace it immediately if I can’t find it.”
• If you unintentionally sent an email with incorrect information to your team. You might say: “My sincerest apologies for the error in the email earlier; here’s the corrected version, and I appreciate your understanding.”

14. I Owe You an Apology

“I owe you an apology” is a thoughtful and introspective phrase that conveys accountability and a sincere recognition of wrongdoing.

It implies a genuine understanding that an apology is overdue, highlighting a willingness to take responsibility and make amends. This expression works well in both personal and professional contexts where acknowledging an error with humility is essential.

Usage Examples:

• Suppose you said something in a heated moment that upset your partner. You could say: “I owe you an apology for my words earlier—I let my frustration get the better of me, and I regret it deeply.”
• Imagine you canceled plans at the last minute with a friend who was looking forward to meeting you. You might say: “I owe you an apology for canceling at the last minute. I know you were excited about it, and I feel terrible.”
• If you forgot to give credit to a colleague who helped with a major presentation. You could say: “I owe you an apology for not acknowledging your contributions during the meeting—it won’t happen again.”

15. I Was Wrong

“I was wrong” is a direct and honest phrase that openly admits fault. It demonstrates humility and accountability, fostering trust and credibility.

This phrase is especially effective in personal or professional contexts where acknowledging mistakes is key to rebuilding relationships or resolving issues. Its simplicity makes it a powerful choice for conveying sincerity and a commitment to improvement.

Usage Examples:

• Suppose you argued with a friend about a fact and later discovered you were incorrect. You could say: “I was wrong about the statistic I quoted earlier; I should’ve double-checked my sources before speaking.”
• Imagine you assumed something about your partner’s feelings without asking them directly. You might say: “I was wrong to assume how you felt—I should’ve communicated with you instead of jumping to conclusions.”
• If you initially dismissed a colleague’s suggestion at work but later realized it was a good idea. You could say: “I was wrong to dismiss your suggestion earlier—it was actually a great idea, and I appreciate you bringing it up.”

Conclusion

Expanding your vocabulary with other ways to say sorry allows you to convey regret or apology in a way that best suits the situation and audience. Whether you’re aiming for professionalism, informality, or heartfelt sincerity, using varied expressions like “Forgive me,” “Pardon me,” or “I was wrong” ensures your message feels authentic and tailored. Trust Other Ways to Say to keep your language versatile, meaningful, and impactful.

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