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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Roberts expressed remorse at sentencing, the outlet reported.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2026
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But to some, notably the families of the victims, Shirilla has never truly shown remorse.—
Kathleen Perricone,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 May 2026
Noun
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In boyhood, guilt was a constant companion.—
Peter Hessler,
New Yorker,
31 May 2026
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According to Botwin, cancer survivors she’s worked with have dealt with emotional challenges that affect their healing process, including depression and survivor’s guilt.—
Teresa Mull,
FOXNews.com,
30 May 2026
Noun
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Piccotto effectively plays the regret of a mother forced to reckon with the loss of a child, the horror of engaging with that child again, while also grappling with her own role as a mother felled by the scourge of addiction.—
David John Chávez,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
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González-Pardo Rodríguez expressed regret during the hearing.—
Nicole Acevedo,
NBC news,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contriteness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contriteness. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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