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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The Miami Dolphins added an actual ton of beef to the defensive front in last year’s draft, and for half a season there seemed to be buyer’s remorse.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
19 Apr. 2026
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Ball, for his part, expressed remorse for his actions.—
Eric Nehm,
New York Times,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The prosecutors said the long lag showed consciousness of guilt.—
Clifford Ward,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Apr. 2026
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Well, there are worse things to do with your guilt over saying something cruel in a drunken rant than throwing a very thoughtful 30th-birthday party, no?—
Jessica M. Goldstein,
Vulture,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
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For many athletes, an injury of this magnitude could lead them down a dark path of regret, anger and even self-loathing, but with help from his village at TCU, Ibukun-Okeyode was able to forge his own path.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
17 Apr. 2026
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Their unexpected connection propels them on a road trip to San Francisco… As the landscapes shift from the bustling city to serene coastal towns, their relationship deepens, revealing vulnerabilities, regrets and dreams.—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contriteness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contriteness. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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