as in remorseful
feeling sorrow for a wrong that one has done
being contrite is not enough to spare you a detention if you're caught skipping class
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of contrite
This and that ▪ Dolphins rookie running back Ollie Gordon II was contrite about lashing out at running backs coach Eric Studesville in a heated exchange after Gordon was called for a tripping penalty against Baltimore.
—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
That's why Gausman was contrite despite a mostly fantastic effort.
—
Jackson Roberts,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Oct. 2025
The dispatches from one of India’s most troubled generic drug makers were contrite, filled with far-reaching promises to clean up its factory, stop contamination and send safe medication to Americans counting on the company’s drugs.
—
Megan Rose,
ProPublica,
12 Aug. 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
See All Example Sentences for contrite
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
That's why Gausman was contrite despite a mostly fantastic effort.
—
Jackson Roberts,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Oct. 2025
The dispatches from one of India’s most troubled generic drug makers were contrite, filled with far-reaching promises to clean up its factory, stop contamination and send safe medication to Americans counting on the company’s drugs.
—
Megan Rose,
ProPublica,
12 Aug. 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
See All Example Sentences for contrite
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contrite
Adjective
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Mazzei asked whether Heuermann was truly remorseful.
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Peters doesn’t appear especially remorseful.
Adjective
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Both candidates should be ashamed of themselves for intentionally ignoring a group of American citizens and voters.
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Crowdpleasers are nothing to be ashamed of.
Adjective
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For this particular one, there was the cat stuff, but also there was the Monica dating stuff, which is very much based on my horrific experiences, sorry to say.
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These things are around for so much longer than any of us — sorry to bring death into it.
Adjective
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Be apologetic for the inconvenience.
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Streep imitated how Hawn, 80, would arrive on set, always apologetic.
Adjective
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Johnson wrote in a letter in the filing to the Illinois review board that Hoover is repentant and has the potential and the desire to live the rest of his life as a force for good in his community.
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Perry had been reluctant to engage with recovery groups in the past, which are often structured around repentant confessions.
Adjective
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In his speech to the Spanish parliament Monday, Leo framed the right of the church to keep priest-penitent conversations confidential as a matter of freedom of religion.
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Marc makes an example of the penitent, powerless Jeanne, reminding the rest of his flock of the punishment for apostasy and using her rough time among the heathens as proof of why none under his control should ever want to trade his order for such modern sin and depravity.
Adjective
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But with Hoskins facing the Phillies once again, now as a member of the Cleveland Guardians, Harper sent a regretful response on that decision.
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Dusabejambo listened to harrowing stories from survivors and heard brutal confessions from regretful perpetrators.
Cite this Entry
“Contrite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contrite. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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