Synonyms and antonyms of Ways of saying you are sorry or regret something in British Thesaurus

I’m sorry ()

used for telling someone that you are ashamed or unhappy about something that you have done that has hurt or upset them

I/we regret to /inform/tell you that ()

used when you are giving someone bad news

my (humble/deepest/sincere etc) apologies ()

used for saying that you are sorry for something

I beg your pardon (spoken formal)

spoken formal used for saying you are sorry because you have made a slight mistake, for example because you have stood on someone’s foot. ‘Sorry’ is a less formal way of saying this

excuse me ()

used for showing you are sorry for interrupting someone

regrettably (adverb)

used for saying that you are sad or sorry about something

forgive me (for doing something)/forgive my doing something ()

used when you want to say or do something that may offend the person you are talking to

I’m afraid ()

used for politely telling someone something that might make them sad, disappointed, or angry, for example when you cannot do what they want or do not agree with them

due to/for reasons beyond someone’s control ()

used for saying that you are not responsible for something that has happened, especially when you are sorry about it

unfortunately (adverb)

used for saying that something is sad or disappointing

alas (interjection)

often humorous an old word used for saying you are sad about something and you wish it had not happened

excuse me ()

used for showing you are sorry because your body has made a rude noise

excuse the expression ()

used for saying you are sorry for saying something rude

I fear (that)/so/not ()

used for saying that you believe something bad has happened or might happen and that you are sad about it

if only ()

used for saying that you would like a situation to be different

(if you’ll) pardon/excuse the expression ()

used for saying you are sorry for using a slightly offensive word or phrase

I hate to say/admit ()

used for showing that you are sorry about what you are going to say, because you think it is unpleasant or you wish it was not true

I’m ashamed to say/admit ()

used for admitting something that you think people might be surprised or disappointed about

I’m sorry ()

used in a social situation as a way of asking someone to forgive you for doing something rude, embarrassing etc

I’m sorry to say/report ()

used for talking about something bad or disappointing that has happened

I wasn’t thinking/I didn’t think ()

used for saying that you are sorry that you have upset someone

on your knees ()

used for emphasizing that you are very sorry

pardon (interjection)

used for saying ‘sorry’ when you make a rude noise with your body

pardon/excuse my French ()

used for saying you are sorry for swearing

pardon me ()

used for saying ‘sorry’ when you do something rude, for example interrupt someone or make a rude noise with your body

pardon me for (doing) something ()

used for saying ‘sorry’ for doing or saying something that you think might offend people

regretfully (adverb)

formal used for introducing bad news or something that you wish you did not have to say

sad to say ()

used when talking about something that makes you unhappy

soz (interjection)

Britishmainly spoken sorry

SRY (abbreviation)

sorry: used in emails and text messages

that’s quite all right ()

used when you reply to someone who has said they are sorry, in order to show them that you do not mind what they have done

there goes something ()

used for expressing disappointment that something has failed, has been lost, or has been destroyed

too bad ()

used for saying that you are sorry or sympathetic about something

why, oh why...? ()

used when you wish that something had not happened

wish (verb)

used for saying that you feel sorry or disappointed about something that you did or did not do

woe is me ()

used for emphasizing that you are unhappy or have a problem

worse luck ()

used for saying that you wish a situation was different

would that ()

used for saying that you wish that something were true, especially when you know that it is impossible