containing an apology or excuse for a fault, failure, insult, injury, etc.

An apologetic letter to his creditors explained the delay.

defending by speech or writing.

willing or eager to apologize.

sorry; regretful.

adjective

defiant , defying

adjective

atoning , attritional , compunctious , conciliatory , contrite , expiatory , explanatory , on one’s knees , penitent , penitential , propitiatory , regretful , remorseful , repentant , rueful , self-effacing , self-incriminating , sorry , supplicating , deprecatory , vindicatory

noun

apologia , defense , justification , vindication