Apologetic
containing an or excuse for a fault, failure, insult, injury, etc.:
An apologetic letter to his creditors explained the delay.
defending by speech or writing.
willing or eager to .
sorry; regretful.
Contemporary Examples
Cramer was almost incoherent by this point, cringing and apologetic.
How Jon Stewart Went Bad Tucker Carlson March 17, 2009
Once the noise had stopped, he would mumble a few words and flash a shy, apologetic grin.
The Hipster Thief Nick Antosca September 18, 2009
apologetic rogue is a role more familiar to husbands (like Rupert Sanders) who want to stay out of court.
Kristen Stewart, Katie Holmes, and the Summer of Break-Up Porn Tracy Quan August 12, 2012
It was a message rejected as too plaintive and apologetic by the black America of 1950.
Up from History, Part 5 David Frum February 3, 2013
But for a full day, there was nothing but apologetic reassurances over the loudspeaker.
We Survived the Triumph: Passengers Describe Their Doomed Carnival Cruise Winston Ross, Eliza Shapiro, Sam Register February 15, 2013
Historical Examples
“The lady without it, at present,” I said, with an apologetic smile for my rather grim jest.
The Gold Bag Carolyn Wells
He was apologetic, and even cringing, until they turned on Lilia.
Where Angels Fear to Tread E. M. Forster
Candace could do nothing but look as apologetic as she felt.
A Little Country Girl Susan Coolidge
The Chevalier shot me an apologetic glance across the board.
The Suitors of Yvonne Raphael Sabatini
“Halt a moment,” said the invalid, in a weak voice and with an apologetic smile.
Blue Lights R.M. Ballantyne
adjective
expressing or anxious to make apology; contrite
protecting or defending in speech or writing
adj.
1640s, “vindicatory,” from French apologétique, from Latin apologeticus, from Greek apologetikos “defensible,” from apologeisthai (see apology). Meaning “regretfully acknowledging failure” is from 1855. As a noun, “formal defense,” from early 15c. Related: Apologetics (c.1753).
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- Apologetically
containing an or excuse for a fault, failure, insult, injury, etc.: An apologetic letter to his creditors explained the delay. defending by speech or writing. willing or eager to . sorry; regretful. Contemporary Examples “We lead a life of glimpses & glances,” Emerson apologetically wrote of their time in his house. Why Do Women Love […]
- Apologetics
the branch of theology concerned with the defense or proof of Christianity. Contemporary Examples And Obama has worked to push American foreign policy beyond Carterite apologetics or Bushesque saber-rattling. Carter Is Worse Than Clint Gil Troy September 3, 2012 I know that some of you are going to call this Obama apologetics, but you know […]
- Apologia
an apology, as in defense or justification of a belief, idea, etc. Literature. a work written as an explanation or justification of one’s motives, convictions, or acts. Contemporary Examples Nor is his often-riveting new memoir an exercise in nostalgia, apologia, or retread rhetoric. The Accidental Radical John Douglas Marshall April 26, 2009 Submit to his […]
- Apologia pro vita sua
a religious autobiography (1864) of Cardinal John Henry Newman. Historical Examples The first sentence was a brief self-accusation, what followed was the defense—a sinner’s Apologia pro Vita Sua. The Tysons May Sinclair I was just going to say, when that foolish story interrupted me, that Cardinal Newman wrote a book called “Apologia pro Vita Sua.” […]
- Apologies
a written or spoken expression of one’s regret, remorse, or sorrow for having insulted, failed, injured, or wronged another: He demanded an apology from me for calling him a crook. a defense, excuse, or justification in speech or writing, as for a cause or doctrine. (initial capital letter, italics) a dialogue by Plato, centering on […]