Being late can be a major inconvenience both for you and those who are waiting for you. However, using the same phrase every time you apologize for your tardiness can get repetitive and lose its impact. Here are some synonyms that you can use interchangeably with "were late" to add some variety to your apology: delayed, overdue, tardy, behind schedule, running behind, not on time, behind time, behindhand, delayed in arriving, fallen behind, or belated. Remember, while it's important to apologize when you're late, it's also crucial to try and manage your time efficiently in the future to avoid being late.