What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
ashamed
Example
She felt ashamed of her behavior at the party last night. [ashamed: adjective]
Example
He looked down, feeling ashamed of what he had said. [ashamed: past participle]
sorry
Example
I'm sorry for being late to the meeting. [sorry: adjective]
Example
She said sorry for accidentally bumping into him. [sorry: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Sorry is more commonly used than ashamed in everyday language. Sorry is versatile and can be used in various situations to apologize or express regret, while ashamed is less common and is mainly used to describe personal feelings of embarrassment or guilt.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between ashamed and sorry?
While ashamed is typically associated with a more personal and introspective tone, sorry is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts to apologize or express regret.