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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
  • His new novel, Vigil, tells the story of an angel tasked with helping a billionaire feel a degree of remorse for his actions before crossing over.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
  • And while the platform and culture may have changed, the thrill of the hunt—and occasional buyer’s remorse—has not.
    — Adam Erace, Fortune, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of remorse
Noun
  • In the ad, Yang unloads on his therapist, played by comedienne Ana Gasteyer, about his guilt over gatekeeping a really fantastic beauty product from the group chat.
    — Irene Richardson, InStyle, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Unfortunately, this announcement means The Beast in Me, much like the characters in The Beast in Me, carries a dark guilt at its core.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of guilt
Noun
  • North Korea issued a vague expression of regret over the soldiers’ injuries without clearly accepting responsibility.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The difficult stuff was writing about regrets regarding my relationship with my father.
    — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 28 Sep. 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 1 Oct. 2026.

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