as in remorse
a feeling of responsibility for wrongdoing
his determination to make things right again was seen as a sign of his sincere contriteness
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Recent Examples of contriteness
Recently, however, pride has partly given way to contriteness as President Emmanuel Macron, aware of France’s legacy as a former heavy-handed empire, has attempted to make amends for mistakes during the country’s imperial past.
—
The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 7 Aug. 2025
The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contriteness
Noun
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Starring Miami-native stage and TV actor David Rosenberg, the one-man show set in the Bronx, is a heart-wrenching, but ultimately uplifting, story of faith, remorse and the human spirit.—
Ben Crandell,
Sun Sentinel,
6 May 2026
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Fritz replied that the language of the letter showed empathy and remorse.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The judge also made clear the scope of a preliminary hearing is limited, focused on whether prosecutors can establish probable cause, not determining guilt or innocence, but said the defense still needs sufficient time to prepare given the volume of material.—
Adam Sabes , Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
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The guilt swells and swells while the sweater sits and sits.—
Liana Satenstein,
Vogue,
8 May 2026
Noun
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But by May 2027, the bruises suffered and the regrets carried may well be part of a different kind of journey.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
7 May 2026
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One honest conversation can prevent years of misunderstanding, pain or regret later.—
Essence,
Essence,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contriteness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contriteness. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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