contrite

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adjective con·trite \ ˈkän-ˌtrīt , kən-ˈtrīt \

Definition of contrite

:feeling or showing sorrow and remorse for a sin or shortcoming

a contrite criminal

a contrite apology

contrite sighs

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contritely

adverb

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contriteness

noun

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Examples of contrite in a Sentence

Allbaugh apologized, though it was clear he was hardly contrite. —Christopher Cooper &Robert Block, Disaster, 2006
… Teddy was immediately contrite. "That was stupid of me. Forgive me." —Jack Higgins, The President's Daughter, 1998
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
… 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
being contrite is not enough to spare you an arrest if you're caught shoplifting

Recent Examples of contrite from the Web

Arpaio, who has been anything but contrite, did not submit a formal application.

— adam liptak, Alaska Dispatch News, "Trump’s pardon of Arpaio follows, but challenges, the law," 26 Aug. 2017
Simpson shifted back and forth from being remorseful and contrite, to being defiant about what took place in the Las Vegas hotel room.

— jeff darcy, cleveland.com, "Kushner's transparency is shady: Darcy cartoon," 25 July 2017
Ridpath suggested Pitino might benefit from being more contrite in the final steps in the infractions process.

— jeff greer, The Courier-Journal, "Compliance experts on Louisville case: NCAA appeals process an uphill battle," 30 June 2017
The statement that Woods released Monday, while contrite, came up a few assertions short of accountability.

— karen crouse, New York Times, "After Tiger Woods Stumbles, Solid Ground Beckons," 30 May 2017
Franken stepped into her line of sight to offer a contrite, confessional gesture.

— susan page, USA TODAY, "Al Franken, comedian-turned-senator, takes on Donald Trump, TV-star-turned-president," 23 May 2017
And Pillar, rather than appeal, owned up in a contrite statement.

— bill shaikin, latimes.com, "Three up, three down | World Series predictions, accountability and Terry Collins' Mets record," 20 May 2017
NEW YORK — A contrite Matt Harvey rejoined the New York Mets on Tuesday and apologized to his teammates after serving his three-day suspension for skipping a game last weekend.

— mike fitzpatrick, The Denver Post, "Matt Harvey rejoins New York Mets, apologizes for skipping game," 9 May 2017
In a subsequent internal message sent to United employees Monday evening, a copy of which the airline provided Bloomberg News, Munoz was less contrite.

— bloomberg news, The Denver Post, "United shares tumble as social-media storm spreads worldwide," 11 Apr. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'contrite.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

A person who is contrite may have rubbed someone the wrong way and caused bruised feelings - and there is a hint about the origins of the word in that thought. Contrite came to English by way of Anglo-French from the Latin verb conterere, meaning "to grind" or "to bruise." Conterere, in turn, was formed by combining the prefix com- and terere, meaning "to rub." If you've guessed that trite is a cousin of contrite (through terere), you are correct. Other terere descendants in English include detriment and tribulation, and very possibly the familiar verb try.

Origin and Etymology 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 ¹throw

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First Known Use: 14th century

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