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SORRY
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
Irregular inflected forms: sorrier , sorriest
I. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Causing dejection
Example:
grim rainy weather
Synonyms:
blue; dark; dingy; disconsolate; dismal; drab; drear; dreary; gloomy; grim; sorry
Classified under:
Similar:
cheerless; depressing; uncheerful (causing sad feelings of gloom and inadequacy)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Bad; unfortunate
Example:
a sorry state of affairs
Synonyms:
deplorable; distressing; lamentable; pitiful; sad; sorry
Classified under:
Similar:
bad (having undesirable or negative qualities)
Derivation:
sorriness (worthlessness due to insignificance)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Feeling or expressing regret or sorrow or a sense of loss over something done or undone
Example:
he felt bad about breaking the vase
Synonyms:
bad; regretful; sorry
Classified under:
Adjectives
Also:
penitent; repentant (feeling or expressing remorse for misdeeds)
Sense 4
Meaning:
Without merit; of little or no value or use
Example:
the car was a no-good piece of junk
Synonyms:
good-for-naught; good-for-nothing; meritless; no-account; no-count; no-good; sorry
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
worthless (lacking in usefulness or value)
Derivation:
sorriness (worthlessness due to insignificance)
Context examples:
“If he was only sorry, he wouldn't look at me as he does. I am only sorry, and it makes me feel kinder.”
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
Do you think I was sorry?
(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Lucy is full of quiet joy, and her mother is glad and sorry at once.
(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)
“I am sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty’s business to a more successful conclusion.”
(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
“I’m so sorry,” she said.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
I am sorry to hear that; but why did not you tell me that before?
(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)
Please forgive me, Jo. I'm very, very sorry.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
I am so sorry about it.
(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Sorry to see that you’ve had the British workman in the house.
(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
I am sorry Mr. and Mrs. Cole should have done it.
(Emma, by Jane Austen)
