What does sorriest mean?
Sorriest is the superlative form of sorry and is used for the person, thing, or situation that causes the greatest sadness, distress, or regret. In its most common emotional sense, it describes someone who is deeply saddened or who feels the sharpest sorrow. For example, a person may say that a friend was the sorriest when hearing about a bereavement. The word can also compare apologies or remorse: “That was the sorriest apology anyone had ever heard” indicates not merely a poor-quality apology but one accompanied by the strongest regret. The expression “the sorriest” is often used with “of” to identify the most affected person in a group. Sorriest is common in both formal and informal English, though its emotional force is generally stronger and more literary than that of “most sad.”
Feeling or causing the greatest sadness or distress; most sorrowful.
"The children were the sorriest when the rain ruined their picnic."
Often used in the construction “the sorriest of” to compare people or situations.
Feeling or expressing the greatest regret or remorse.
"He offered the sorriest apology for wasting her time."
This sense is especially common in the phrase “the sorriest apology.”
In “the sorriest,” the final -est does more than compare feelings: it captures the moment when unhappiness reaches its height.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sorriest come from?
The word comes from the adjective sorry, which derives from Old English sōrig, meaning “sorrowful” or “full of sorrow.” Its modern form developed through Middle English and was influenced by the noun sorrow, from the same Old English root. Related forms include sorrow and sorrowful, while the comparative and superlative endings produced sorrier and sorriest.
Related word forms
How sorriest is actually used
In everyday English, “sorriest” usually expresses sadness or sympathy. It can also mean most regretful or remorseful, especially in phrases such as “the sorriest apology.”