Are you trying to sympathize with someone but don’t quite know the best way to approach it?
Perhaps you’re worried that I’m sorry you feel that way isn’t okay to use and sounds a bit rude.
Well, you’re in the right place!
This article will explore some alternatives to teach you how to professionally say I’m sorry you feel that way.
6 Alternative Ways to Say “I’m Sorry You Feel That Way”
You can also review these 6 alternatives to learn what to say instead of I’m sorry you feel that way:
- I’m sorry if you’re upset about that
- I can see that you’re upset about that
- I regret that you feel that way
- I’m sorry to hear you’re feeling that way
- Please forgive me if my actions led you to feel like that
- It wasn’t my intention to make you feel this way
1. I’m Sorry if You’re Upset About That
Firstly, we recommend writing I’m sorry if you’re upset about that.
This shows that you understand someone is upset but don’t want to take the blame. In the workplace, this could be an effective way to apologize without directly apologizing.
It might seem rude, but it’s a useful phrase when writing a message to employees. It shows that you have no control over the situation that’s upset them, so you can’t make it more favorable.
You can also review these message samples:
I’m sorry if you’re upset about that. However, there isn’t much I can do to change what’s already happened.
Well, I’m sorry if you’re upset about that. Please let me know if I can help you feel any better.
2. I Can See That You’re Upset About That
You can use I can see that you’re upset about that instead of saying I’m sorry you feel that way.
Instead of directly apologizing, this phrase is a great way to empathize with someone’s feelings.
It shows more compassion and consideration when someone is upset. So, even if you made them upset, this is a good choice that’ll let them know you’ll do what you can to correct things.
You may review these examples if you still need help with it:
I can see that you’re upset about that. Please tell me if I can do anything that might help to fix the situation.
I can see that you’re upset about that. I didn’t mean to cause you any pain.
3. I Regret That You Feel That Way
For something a bit more formal, you can use I regret that you feel that way. This is a great phrase to include in a professional email.
It works well when contacting a customer. If they’ve come to you with a complaint, this should be one of the first things you include in your reply.
That way, the customer will feel heard. That’s the first step when it comes to correcting whatever issues they might have with your company or a product it sells.
Feel free to review this email sample to learn more about how it works:
Dear Miss Willis,
I regret that you feel that way about our organization. Is there anything we can do that might help you change your mind?
All the best,
Sam Tate
4. I’m Sorry to Hear You’re Feeling That Way
Try using I’m sorry to hear you’re feeling that way as another way to say I’m sorry you feel that way. This is a great way to remain formal and polite when someone comes to you.
Generally, it works well when emailing a client back. It shows that they’ve raised an issue with you, and you’re going to do what you can to help them, even if you don’t take the blame.
Also, this email sample should help you to understand more about it:
Dear Mr. Pecker,
I’m sorry to hear you’re feeling that way. I’ll see what I can do on my end to ensure it never happens again.
Kind regards,
Joanna Shaw
5. Please Forgive Me if My Actions Led You to Feel Like That
Sometimes, you will say or do something that will hurt someone’s feelings. Yes, that even happens in the workplace.
So, a phrase like please forgive me if my actions led you to feel like that goes a long way in a professional email.
It shows you take responsibility for your actions. This is the first step on the road to a genuine apology, which will make the recipient feel much better about what happened.
Here’s a great sample email to show you more about how to use it:
Dear Mark,
Please forgive me if my actions led you to feel like that. That was certainly not my intention.
Best,
Maria Jenkins
6. It Wasn’t My Intention to Make You Feel This Way
Finally, we recommend using it wasn’t my intention to make you feel this way as a formal synonym for I’m sorry you feel that way.
Again, it’s a great way to take ownership when you’ve upset someone. It lets them know that you can understand why they’re upset and you want to fix it.
Try using it when messaging a coworker. It lets them know that you empathize and didn’t mean to upset them initially.
So, hopefully, they’ll be more inclined to let you apologize or fix the situation.
You can also review these examples to learn more about it:
It wasn’t my intention to make you feel this way. Please tell me what I need to do to fix the problem.
It wasn’t my intention to make you feel this way at all. I feel so bad about bringing you down.
Is It Okay to Say “I’m Sorry You Feel That Way”?
I’m sorry you feel that way is not okay to use in most professional contexts.
It is not a sincere apology. It is a form of gaslighting that shows you are not genuinely sorry for saying something to offend someone.
Generally, it’s quite rude. Instead of apologizing, it shows that you do not understand why someone has decided to feel bad or offended by something you’ve said or done.
Here’s an email sample showing you what it looks like when you include it in your writing:
Dear Harold,
I’m sorry you feel that way, but there’s nothing I can do about it. I hope we can continue to work together.
Best wishes,
Sam Wright
Also, another rude phrase is I’m sorry I made you feel that way. This one comes across as even ruder, as it suggests that you understand you offended someone, but you don’t care.
Here’s a great example showing you how it works:
Dear Billie,
I’m sorry I made you feel that way. However, I do not see any reason for us to discuss it further.
Yours,
Max Rutherford
