contrite

con·trite

adjective \ˈkän-ˌtrīt, kən-ˈ\

Definition of CONTRITE

: feeling or showing sorrow and remorse for a sin or shortcoming <a contrite criminal> <a contrite apology> <contrite sighs>

— con·trite·ly adverb

— con·trite·ness noun

Examples of CONTRITE

1. <being contrite is not enough to spare you an arrest if you're caught shoplifting>
2. Allbaugh apologized, though it was clear he was hardly contrite. —Christopher Cooper &Robert Block, Disaster, 2006
3. … Teddy was immediately contrite. “That was stupid of me. Forgive me.” —Jack Higgins, The President's Daughter, 1998
4. At the airport, the meter registers nine pounds, and of course he had said six or seven. I have a sense now of his feeling somewhat contrite, or perhaps only abashed. —Renata Adler, Pitch Dark, 1983
5. … for days afterward, afraid of himself and worried about his sanity, he would be contrite and terribly ashamed. —John Nichols, The Milagro Beanfield War, 1974

Origin of CONTRITE

Middle English contrit, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin contritus, from Latin, past participle of conterere to grind, bruise, from com- + terere to rub — more at throw

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to CONTRITE

Synonyms

apologetic, compunctious, penitent, regretful, remorseful, repentant, rueful, sorry

Antonyms

impenitent, remorseless, unapologetic, unrepentant

Related Words

ashamed, shamefaced, sheepish; dolorous, grieving, lugubrious, mournful, plaintive, sorrowful, wailing, weeping, woeful

Near Antonyms

compassionless, cruel, merciless, pitiless, ruthless, unmerciful; shameless, unashamed

Other Religion (Eastern and Other) Terms

Zen, antinomian, avatar, gnosticism, illuminati, ineffable, karma, koan, mantra