contriteness

noun

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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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contriteness
  1. remorse
  2. guilt
  3. regret
Noun
  • The Black women assaulting Clark and Cunningham feel no remorse.
    — Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The defense attorney said her client feels immense remorse for what both his family and Styles’ family have been through.
    — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of remorse
Noun
  • The woman carried guilt over not being there for him and wanted to forgive herself.
    — Sophia Buonpane, Kansas City Star, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Many Spaniards lived or even committed atrocities in the Civil War, suffering a collective guilt, Ruiz Capillas surmises.
    — John Hopewell, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of guilt
Noun
  • Amid the chatter about comeuppance, the celebrity blogger’s sister said that her brother is a good person who has expressed regret over the tone of some of his early-career scandals.
    — Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Cuba's Foreign Ministry reacted that the expulsion involved 10 officials — not nine as the Dominicans had stated — and expressed regret over the decision by Dominican President Luis Abinader.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of regret

Browse Nearby Words

contrite
contriteness
contrition
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Cite this Entry

“Contriteness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contriteness. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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