pen·i·tent
ˈpe-nə-tənt 
: feeling or expressing humble or regretful pain or sorrow for sins or offenses : repentant
penitently
adverb
1
: a person who repents of sin
2
: a person under church censure but admitted to penance or reconciliation especially under the direction of a confessor
Examples of penitent in a Sentence
Adjective
a penitent gossip who had come to ask for forgiveness
Recent Examples on the Web
Sam Allard, Axios, 7 Mar. 2025
With an appropriately penitent look, Grant took a deep breath.
—Scott Huver, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Feb. 2025
Chris Sims, The Courier-Journal, 14 Feb. 2024
The elderly sage was cast as a doleful penitent, making up for youthful indiscretions.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2023
See All Example Sentences for penitent
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Adjective
Your penitent correspondent humbly submits that the whole ritual has jumped the shark in Northeast Ohio.
—Sam Allard, Axios, 7 Mar. 2025
With an appropriately penitent look, Grant took a deep breath.
—Scott Huver, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Feb. 2025
Noun
Serious sinners and penitents began a public penance on the first day of Lent.
—Chris Sims, The Courier-Journal, 14 Feb. 2024
The elderly sage was cast as a doleful penitent, making up for youthful indiscretions.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2023
See All Example Sentences for penitent
Cite this Entry
“Penitent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/penitent. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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