as in ashamed
feeling sorrow for a wrong that one has done
a penitent gossip who had come to ask for forgiveness
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of penitent
Then Morrison introduced a bill to remove clergy-penitent privilege from the state's law on mandatory abuse reporting.
—
Sophie Carson, Journal Sentinel, 24 Mar. 2023
Even when someone is truly sorry and penitent.
—Vicky Spratt, refinery29.com, 16 July 2021
In the wake of the AP's investigation last year, Republican state Rep. Phil Lyman and Democratic Rep. Angela Romero announced plans to reform Utah's clergy-penitent privilege loophole.
—Sam Metz, ajc, 1 Mar. 2023
Her husband’s sudden, violent reaction to the joke, and his subsequent Best Actor speech that bobbed and weaved over the line between defiant and penitent, swallowed the rest of the night whole.
—Caroline Framke, Variety, 27 Mar. 2022
See All Example Sentences for penitent
Sophie Carson, Journal Sentinel, 24 Mar. 2023
Even when someone is truly sorry and penitent.
—Vicky Spratt, refinery29.com, 16 July 2021
In the wake of the AP's investigation last year, Republican state Rep. Phil Lyman and Democratic Rep. Angela Romero announced plans to reform Utah's clergy-penitent privilege loophole.
—Sam Metz, ajc, 1 Mar. 2023
Her husband’s sudden, violent reaction to the joke, and his subsequent Best Actor speech that bobbed and weaved over the line between defiant and penitent, swallowed the rest of the night whole.
—Caroline Framke, Variety, 27 Mar. 2022
See All Example Sentences for penitent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penitent
Adjective
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The young Jamie desperately wants his father’s approval, but his dad is ashamed of him.—
Avivah Wittenberg-Cox,
Forbes.com,
5 Apr. 2025
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Waging war on Denmark is wrong and will damage U.S. defense and foreign relations for decades We Americans should be ashamed of ourselves and of our government.—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
29 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Paige Spiranac isn't sorry for for flaunting her body online.—
Natasha Dye,
People.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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Curiously, over the decades that followed, writers could not resist the urge to project a big fat chip (sorry) onto the shoulders of England’s capital city.—
Amiel Stanek,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Eric claims to be remorseful, and makes a big point of it.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
5 Apr. 2025
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Hoffman acknowledges the crime and is deeply remorseful, his attorney, Cecelia Kappel, told USA TODAY.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA TODAY,
18 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Moore gives one of her quietest performances as repentant cowboy Kiefer’s former lover, Mary Alice.—
Eddie Mouradian,
Vulture,
24 Feb. 2025
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Lyttleton discerned that if Saul was truly converted to Christ, the only explanation was the one Saul himself provided; namely, that the risen Christ appeared to him and called him to repentant faith.—
Dan Miller,
Twin Cities,
6 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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How did so many Germans become contrite about the Nazi past?—
Gary J. Bass,
New York Times,
22 Feb. 2025
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Van Buren returns shortly with a newly contrite attitude, having come around to his library’s merits and read up on Toth’s prior designs in Hungary.—
Anthony Paletta,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The drafts, sent back and forth between Bub and trustees, shift dramatically in tone from angry and defensive to conciliatory and apologetic to concise and professional.—
Carly Flandro,
Idaho Statesman,
4 Apr. 2025
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Smith has since resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and has been apologetic to Rock for slapping him onstage.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Tsukasa is 26 and feeling a little wayward, regretful about his late start in figure skating.—
Kambole Campbell,
Vulture,
7 Mar. 2025
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Between plummeting resale values, trade-in rejections, vandalism with swastika graffiti and stickers on their cars, a growing movement of regretful Cybertruck owners are disguising their cars to avoid harassment, with some pointing their fingers directly at Tesla CEO Elon Musk.—
Ross Rosenfeld,
Newsweek,
26 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Penitent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penitent. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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