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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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
-
Peters doesn’t appear especially remorseful.—
David A. Graham,
The Atlantic,
18 May 2026
-
In the wake of Kirk’s murder, and the high-profile punishments incurred by those who weren’t properly remorseful, Kirk morphed into one of the most widespread memes in recent memory.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
At their most effective, residential schools left Survivors ashamed and confused about being Indigenous.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 May 2026
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Mike Isaac, a veteran tech reporter for the Times, wasn’t ashamed to admit that Brockman had inspired him to secure his own butt pillow.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
20 May 2026
Adjective
-
Among them a City boy wearing three Fit-Bit-type devices, two beautiful Middle Eastern sisters, an outrageously pompous elderly American (sorry; eavesdropping), and several Imelda Marcos lookalikes, tottering out of the treatment rooms with, somehow, their elaborate hairstyles still intact.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
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That’s what health experts now advise, because statistics reveal the sorry fact that 95% of people are deficient in this essential dietary food.—
Margaux Anbouba,
Vogue,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
Be apologetic for the inconvenience.—
Jessica Kozuka,
Travel + Leisure,
6 May 2026
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Streep imitated how Hawn, 80, would arrive on set, always apologetic.—
Victoria Edel,
PEOPLE,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
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.—
Beatrice Peterson,
ABC News,
22 Oct. 2025
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Perry had been reluctant to engage with recovery groups in the past, which are often structured around repentant confessions.—
Katy Golvala,
Hartford Courant,
4 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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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.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
15 May 2026
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Schwimmer expressed skepticism over West’s Wall Street Journal ad, which contains penitent statements that the rapper has not offered in any live interviews or other public appearances.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
7 Apr. 2026
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.—
Peter Chawaga,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2026
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Dusabejambo listened to harrowing stories from survivors and heard brutal confessions from regretful perpetrators.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contrite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contrite. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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