penitent

1 of 2

adjective

pen·​i·​tent ˈpe-nə-tənt How to pronounce penitent (audio)
: feeling or expressing humble or regretful pain or sorrow for sins or offenses : repentant
penitently adverb

penitent

2 of 2

noun

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
Adjective
But with Cash on the vocals, the song and the man singing are nearly penitent. EW.com, 16 Nov. 2023 Eighteen years later, playing the beloved daughter of Al Pacino’s Michael, she is shot dead on the steps of the opera house in Palermo, taking a bullet meant for the belatedly penitent godfather, who now comprehends without any doubt that there is no escaping the sins of his or his relatives’ past. Andrew Marzoni, The New Republic, 3 Nov. 2023 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 However, lawmakers returned six years later to reinstate the clergy-penitent privilege. Arizona Republic, 21 Apr. 2020 Even if absolution is denied, though, the exchange between penitent and confessor is to remain confidential. San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Aug. 2019
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 Francis journeyed to Iraq in the season of Lent not only as a pastor but as a penitent. Victor Gaetan, Foreign Affairs, 12 Mar. 2021 Francis journeyed to Iraq not only as a pastor but as a penitent. Victor Gaetan, Foreign Affairs, 12 Mar. 2021 Live: Israeli medics say 2 killed in Palestinian attack in West Bank Many of the mostly impoverished penitents undergo the ritual to atone for sins, pray for the sick or for a better life, and give thanks for miracles. Jim Gomez, USA TODAY, 7 Apr. 2023 Wisconsin is among 33 states with laws that protect conversations between clergy and penitents, or those confessing their sins, according to the Child Welfare Information Gateway. Sophie Carson, Journal Sentinel, 24 Mar. 2023 Carmela never fired a gun or discovered where, exactly, the money came from, and yet the portrait of penitent immorality resonated with viewers eager to plumb the nitty-gritty, hypocritical contradictions of the character. Hazlitt, 4 Jan. 2023 Smith plays Peter as a man of faith, penitent to his god, but defiant of men. Peter Debruge, Variety, 30 Nov. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'penitent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French penitent, from Latin paenitent-, paenitens, from present participle of paenitēre to cause regret, feel regret, perhaps from paene almost

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of penitent was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near penitent

Cite this Entry

“Penitent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/penitent. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

penitent

noun
: a person who repents or is doing penance

More from Merriam-Webster on penitent

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