repentant
adjective
re·pen·tant
ri-ˈpen-tᵊnt 
1
: experiencing repentance : penitent
2
: expressive of repentance
repentantly
adverb
Synonyms
Examples of repentant in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In very little time, Lin’s bad luck takes him to one of Bombay’s slums and attracts the attention of smooth-talking gangster Khader Khan (Alexander Siddig), who views the repentant outsider as either a son or a pawn or an opportunity to make people like me compare the plot of Shantaram to Shogun.
—
Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Oct. 2022
Portrayed as a repentant man who has turned over a new leaf after being inspired by his favorite Bible passage 1 Corinthians 5:17, Edima feels compelled to take revenge for his son’s death after failing to convince authorities his son is innocent.
—Chinedu Asadu, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2023
But the brother’s sweetheart, Abra, succeeds in building a bridge between the stricken father and the repentant son.
—Jack Moffitt, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Mar. 2023
Growing Iranian influence in strategic Deir al-Zour province aims at projecting Tehran’s power across the region BEIRUT — When the Syrian military opened offices in the eastern province of Deir al-Zour last month to enlist former rebels and repentant army defectors, almost no one showed up.
—Washington Post, 28 Jan. 2022
Reliable clients — repentant or bored — have stopped calling.
—Ron Charles, Washington Post, 9 May 2023
She’s stuck at the party, which plays as background to David’s repentant sojourn through an alluring yet decaying desert landscape.
—Robert Daniels, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2022
Their fates unknown, more than 1,700 Ukrainian fighters were in Russian custody after surrendering in the conquered city of Mariupol, Moscow said — even as Ukraine claimed battlefield gains elsewhere and heard a repentant confession from a Russian solider in the country’s first war crimes trial.
—Laura Blasey, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2022
Aaron, too, is feeling repentant.
—Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 23 Nov. 2022
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Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Oct. 2022
Portrayed as a repentant man who has turned over a new leaf after being inspired by his favorite Bible passage 1 Corinthians 5:17, Edima feels compelled to take revenge for his son’s death after failing to convince authorities his son is innocent.
—Chinedu Asadu, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2023
But the brother’s sweetheart, Abra, succeeds in building a bridge between the stricken father and the repentant son.
—Jack Moffitt, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Mar. 2023
Growing Iranian influence in strategic Deir al-Zour province aims at projecting Tehran’s power across the region BEIRUT — When the Syrian military opened offices in the eastern province of Deir al-Zour last month to enlist former rebels and repentant army defectors, almost no one showed up.
—Washington Post, 28 Jan. 2022
Reliable clients — repentant or bored — have stopped calling.
—Ron Charles, Washington Post, 9 May 2023
She’s stuck at the party, which plays as background to David’s repentant sojourn through an alluring yet decaying desert landscape.
—Robert Daniels, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2022
Their fates unknown, more than 1,700 Ukrainian fighters were in Russian custody after surrendering in the conquered city of Mariupol, Moscow said — even as Ukraine claimed battlefield gains elsewhere and heard a repentant confession from a Russian solider in the country’s first war crimes trial.
—Laura Blasey, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2022
Aaron, too, is feeling repentant.
—Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 23 Nov. 2022
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'repentant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of repentant was
in the 13th century
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Dictionary Entries Near repentant
Cite this Entry
“Repentant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/repentant. Accessed 6 Dec. 2023.
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More from Merriam-Webster on repentant
Nglish: Translation of repentant for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of repentant for Arabic Speakers
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