Sorrow vs. Sorry — What's the Difference?
By Urooj Arif & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 26, 2024
Sorrow is a deep, lasting emotion often stemming from loss or disappointment, while sorry is an expression of apology or regret.
Difference Between Sorrow and Sorry
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Sorrow is characterized by feelings of deep distress caused by loss, grief, or other misfortunes, reflecting a state of emotional pain. On the other hand, sorry is used as an expression to apologize for mistakes, conveying regret or remorse over an action or situation.
Sorrow often involves a profound, personal emotional experience that can affect one's mood and outlook over time, whereas sorry is typically momentary and involves acknowledging fault or sympathy in social interactions.
Sorrow can be a complex, enduring emotional condition that might require time to heal, while sorry often seeks immediate reconciliation or acknowledgment of a fault or mishap.
The experience of sorrow can lead to significant personal growth or change, reflecting on deep emotional truths, whereas using sorry can strengthen relationships by showing empathy and understanding.
Sorrow is an emotion that one feels within oneself, possibly without external expression, while sorry is communicated to others, often verbally.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
An emotion of deep distress due to loss or hardship.
An expression of apology or regret.
Usage
Describes a feeling or state of mind.
Used to express apology or sympathy.
Duration
Can be long-term.
Typically short-term and situational.
Emotional Depth
Profound and complex.
Often simple and straightforward.
Relationship
Personal internal experience.
Interaction between individuals or groups.
Compare with Definitions
Sorrow
Intense sadness caused by a significant loss.
The sorrow after her cat died was overwhelming.
Sorry
Feeling distress or empathy over misfortunes.
He was sorry to hear about her illness.
Sorrow
A feeling of deep distress from misfortune.
His face reflected the sorrow of a defeated man.
Sorry
Regrettable or unfortunate.
It’s a sorry state of affairs at the company.
Sorrow
Emotional pain associated with, or characterized by, regret.
He felt sorrow over the mistakes of his past.
Sorry
Apologizing for an offense or failure.
I’m sorry for being late.
Sorrow
The state of being sad.
Sorrow filled the room as they remembered their friend.
Sorry
Used to express sympathy or pity.
She said sorry when she saw he was out of change.
Sorrow
Mourning or grief.
She was filled with sorrow at the news of the tragedy.
Sorry
In a poor or pitiful state.
The abandoned puppy looked so sorry in the rain.
Sorrow
A feeling of deep distress caused by loss, disappointment, or other misfortune suffered by oneself or others
A bereaved person needs time to work through their sorrow
Sorry
Feeling or expressing sorrow
We're sorry to hear that you're leaving so soon.
Sorrow
Feel or display deep distress
A woman had cried all night, sorrowing over the death of her husband
Sorry
Feeling or expressing sympathy or pity
She felt sorry for the rain-soaked cat.
Sorrow
Mental suffering caused by loss, disappointment, or misfortune, or an instance of this
Tried to assuage her sorrows.
Sorry
Feeling or expressing regret, especially for a misdeed or mistake
He said he was sorry for breaking the window. I'm sorry I yelled at you.
Sorrow
A source or cause of sorrow; a misfortune
"I must struggle through my sorrows and difficulties as I can" (Jane Austen).
Sorry
Worthless or inferior; paltry
A sorry excuse.
Sorrow
Expression of sorrow, or an instance of this
I listened to his sorrows.
Sorry
Causing sorrow, grief, or misfortune; grievous
A sorry development.
Sorrow
To feel or express sorrow.
Sorry
Used to express apology.
Sorrow
(uncountable) unhappiness, woe
Sorry
Used to express interrogation, especially as a request for a person to say something again.
Sorrow
(countable) usually in plural An instance or cause of unhappiness.
Parting is such sweet sorrow.
Sorry
(of a person) Regretful or apologetic for one's actions.
I am sorry I stepped on your toes. It was an accident.
Sorrow
(intransitive) To feel or express grief.
Sorry
(of a person) Grieved or saddened, especially by the loss of something or someone.
I am sorry for your loss.
The President was sorry to hear that the Ambassador was leaving.
Sorrow
(transitive) To feel grief over; to mourn, regret.
Sorry
Poor, pitifully sad or regrettable.
The storm left his garden in a sorry state.
Sorrow
The uneasiness or pain of mind which is produced by the loss of any good, real or supposed, or by diseappointment in the expectation of good; grief at having suffered or occasioned evil; regret; unhappiness; sadness.
How great a sorrow suffereth now Arcite!
The safe and general antidote against sorrow is employment.
Sorry
Pathetic; contemptibly inadequate.
Bob is a sorry excuse for a football player.
Sorrow
To feel pain of mind in consequence of evil experienced, feared, or done; to grieve; to be sad; to be sorry.
Sorrowing most of all . . . that they should see his face no more.
I desire no man to sorrow for me.
Sorry
The act of saying sorry; an apology.
Sorrow
An emotion of great sadness associated with loss or bereavement;
He tried to express his sorrow at her loss
Sorry
Grieved for the loss of some good; pained for some evil; feeling regret; - now generally used to express light grief or affliction, but formerly often used to express deeper feeling.
Ye were made sorry after a godly manner.
I am sorry for thee, friend; 't is the duke's pleasure.
She entered, were he lief or sorry.
Sorrow
Sadness associated with some wrong done or some disappointment;
He drank to drown his sorrows
He wrote a note expressing his regret
To his rue, the error cost him the game
Sorry
Melancholy; dismal; gloomy; mournful.
All full of chirking was this sorry place.
Sorrow
Something that causes great unhappiness;
Her death was a great grief to John
Sorry
Poor; mean; worthless; as, a sorry excuse.
Cheeks of sorry grain will serve.
Good fruit will sometimes grow on a sorry tree.
Sorrow
The state of being sad;
She tired of his perpetual sadness
Sorry
Keenly sorry or regretful;
Felt bad about letting the team down
Was sorry that she had treated him so badly
Felt bad about breaking the vase
Sorrow
Feel grief; eat one's heart out
Sorry
Feeling or expressing sorrow or pity;
A pitying observer threw his coat around her shoulders
Let him perish without a pitying thought of ours wasted upon him
Sorry
Having regret or sorrow or a sense of loss over something done or undone;
Felt regretful over his vanished youth
Regretful over mistakes she had made
Sorry
Feeling or expressing pain or sorrow for sins or offenses
Sorry
Bad; unfortunate;
My finances were in a deplorable state
A lamentable decision
Her clothes were in sad shape
A sorry state of affairs
Sorry
Depressing in character or appearance;
Drove through dingy streets
The dismal prison twilight
Drab old buildings
A dreary mining town
Gloomy tenements
Sorry routine that follows on the heels of death
Sorry
Without merit;
A sorry horse
A sorry excuse
A lazy no-count, good-for-nothing goldbrick
The car was a no-good piece of junk
Common Curiosities
Is sorrow only related to personal loss?
While often related to loss, sorrow can also stem from deep regrets or missed opportunities.
Can sorrow be expressed as sorry?
Yes, expressing sorrow can involve saying sorry, especially if the sorrow is related to personal regret.
What makes sorry a necessary expression in communication?
Sorry is important for acknowledging mistakes and expressing regret, which helps in maintaining healthy relationships.
How can someone express sorrow without saying sorry?
Expressing sorrow can be through actions, such as crying, withdrawing, or dedicating time to remember.
Does saying sorry always reflect true remorse?
Saying sorry should reflect true remorse, but it can sometimes be used diplomatically without genuine feeling.
What is a synonym for sorrow?
Grief, sadness, and melancholy are common synonyms.
What is the main difference between sorrow and sorry?
Sorrow is a deep, emotional pain, whereas sorry is an expression of apology or regret.
How does culture influence the expression of sorrow and sorry?
Cultural norms dictate how openly sorrow is expressed and how and when apologies are given.
Can someone feel sorrow for someone else’s situation?
Yes, one can feel sorrow empathetically for another's hardships or losses.
How do children learn the concept of sorry?
Children learn the concept through social interactions, where apologies are modeled by adults.
Is it possible to feel sorrow without showing it?
Yes, many people experience internal sorrow without external expressions.
What is a synonym for sorry?
Apologetic, regretful, and remorseful are synonyms for sorry.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
