“Feel Sorry” vs. “Feel Bad”: What’s the Difference?

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The difference between “feel sorry” and “feel bad”

  • Feel sorry is more related to feeling sorry for a specific person, while feel bad is more related to feeling bad about a situation.
  • Feel sorry is a more formal expression compared to feel bad.
  • Feel bad often implies a sense of guilt or responsibility, while feel sorry is more related to empathy.
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What is the definition of “feel sorry” and “feel bad”?

Feel sorry
  • To feel sympathy or regret for someone or something.
  • It's emotional empathy for a situation that has happened.
  • It's an expression used to express humility or remorse over an unfortunate turn of events.
Feel bad
  • To experience a feeling of guilt, remorse, or sadness.
  • It's a general expression used to indicate an unsatisfactory situation or experience.
  • It focuses on the emotions that come from a certain situation.

Which is the more popular variant on the Internet?

“Feel bad” is the more popular variant on the web.
Feel sorry
17,200,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. I feel sorry for the homeless man on the street.
  2. Alex felt sorry for his friend after he lost his job.
  3. She always feels sorry for herself when things go wrong.
More popular
Feel bad
36,300,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. I feel bad for forgetting my mom's birthday.
  2. Sarah felt bad about lying to her boss.
  3. He always feels bad when he has to say no to someone's request.
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