apologetic
Americanadjective
-
expressing or anxious to make apology; contrite
-
protecting or defending in speech or writing
Other Word Forms
- apologetically adverb
- nonapologetic adjective
- nonapologetical adjective
- nonapologetically adverb
- pseudoapologetic adjective
- pseudoapologetically adverb
- quasi-apologetic adjective
- quasi-apologetically adverb
- unapologetic adjective
Etymology
Origin of apologetic
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English apologetik “a formal defense,” from Middle French or directly from Late Latin apologēticus “written defense, defensive,” Greek apologētikós “fit for defense,” equivalent to apologē- (variant stem of apologeîsthai “to speak in defense”; apologia ) + -tikos -tic
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He’s insufficiently grateful to the people he owes, and insufficiently apologetic to those he’s wronged.
From Los Angeles Times
When Danny came out into the alley with his own fistful of nails, I gave James a strained, apologetic smile.
From Literature
Both of our heads swivel around to where Theo stands in the parlor, an apologetic look on his face.
From Literature
That extra marbling translates into depth, tenderness and a loaf that tastes intentional rather than apologetic.
From Salon
He sounded bored of repeating the story we’d all had drummed into us, and I felt guilty and apologetic.
From Literature
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
