ˈsärē, ˈsȯr-, -ri adjective
( -er/-est )
Etymology: Middle English sary, sory, from Old English sārig, from sār sore + -ig -y — more at sore
1. : grieved or grieving over the loss of some good
was sorry to see it moved but I would be sorrier to see it destroyed — W.T.Scott
: feeling sorrow, regret, or penitence
she began to cry, poor thing, and I felt very sorry for her — W.S.Maugham
was momentarily sorry that she had not read it — Arnold Bennett
sorry for past transgressions
— often used interjectionally to express polite regret
sorry , but I disagree
sorry ; I decline to yield — F.H.Case
2. : of melancholy, dismal, or gloomy mien : mournful , sad
through the sorry routine that follows on the heels of death — B.A.Williams
the sorry truth is, this book ought not to have been accepted for publication — Kemp Malone
3. : inspiring blended sorrow, pity, scorn, and ridicule : worthlessly or wretchedly worn-out, unfit, or futile
a sorry underpaid official
fed us on such sorry chuck — American Songbag
for every good fur-catching dog, there are a hundred sorry ones — F.B.Gipson
making a sorry spectacle of himself — Joseph Wechsberg
Synonyms: see contemptible