as in ashamed
feeling sorrow for a wrong that one has done
a penitent gossip who had come to ask for forgiveness
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of penitent
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
But with Cash on the vocals, the song and the man singing are nearly penitent.
—Stephanie Kaloi and James Mercadante, EW.com, 21 Dec. 2024
But with Cash on the vocals, the song and the man singing are nearly penitent.
—EW.com, 16 Nov. 2023
See All Example Sentences for penitent
Sam Allard, Axios, 7 Mar. 2025
With an appropriately penitent look, Grant took a deep breath.
—Scott Huver, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Feb. 2025
But with Cash on the vocals, the song and the man singing are nearly penitent.
—Stephanie Kaloi and James Mercadante, EW.com, 21 Dec. 2024
But with Cash on the vocals, the song and the man singing are nearly penitent.
—EW.com, 16 Nov. 2023
See All Example Sentences for penitent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penitent
Adjective
-
While red, inflamed skin was often seen as the norm, my flares—ranging from deep brown or purplish dry patches to clusters of tiny, itchy bumps—looked more like a disease to be feared and ashamed of rather than understood and treated.—
Raelle Kennedy,
Health,
12 May 2025
-
Otherwise, higher education will transform our sons and daughters into people who feel ashamed of themselves and hate their country.—
James Unnever,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 May 2025
Adjective
-
Sonos is very, very sorry for ruining your speaker system.—
Boone Ashworth,
Wired News,
9 May 2025
-
Arnold said the band is sorry they were forced to cancel their summer tour, which was set to kick off on May 15 at Daytona Beach and travel across America, co-headlining with Creed for select shows.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2025
Adjective
-
The men should have been there, looking remorseful, but during the first two hearings at which a total of 23 men were charged, only two came in person.—
Wendy Murphy,
Boston Herald,
27 Mar. 2025
-
Gayle’s attorney, Diane Gonzalez, told McClatchy News that Gayle was remorseful and broke down on the stand when testifying.—
Olivia Lloyd,
Miami Herald,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Over these last weeks, however, I have been nudged into a repentant apology by his profound take on our political crisis and a sincere and accurate Christian analysis of the problems and deliberate practical steps the individual Christian citizen can take during this holy season.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2025
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Moore gives one of her quietest performances as repentant cowboy Kiefer’s former lover, Mary Alice.—
Eddie Mouradian,
Vulture,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
How did so many Germans become contrite about the Nazi past?—
Gary J. Bass,
New York Times,
22 Feb. 2025
-
Van Buren returns shortly with a newly contrite attitude, having come around to his library’s merits and read up on Toth’s prior designs in Hungary.—
Anthony Paletta,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Will has so much defensiveness, but Caleb has a sort of an apologetic sense about him.—
Ronda Racha Penrice,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2025
-
The four-time major winner was suitably apologetic and empathetic to Musetti’s plight.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes.com,
13 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Ma and Tsai give strong performances that cast the dynamic as one not of scorn but of regretful misunderstanding.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
HollywoodReporter,
15 May 2025
-
Checkout pages create friction to prevent regretful purchases.—
Jason Snyder,
Forbes,
3 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Penitent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penitent. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
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