as in ruthless
not sorry for having done wrong
an impenitent criminal who said he'd do it all over again, given the chance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 impenitent
For her part, having faced such criticism for over four decades, Newkirk remains blissfully impenitent.
—
Jan Dutkiewicz, Vox, 8 Aug. 2024
Among the various allegations put forward are reports of drugging and fascist group chats, slave labour and foot photograph farms, with the brand’s impenitent founder Stephan Marsan at its centre.
—Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 12 Apr. 2024
Just look at the impenitent subject: the deep furrow between his eyebrows and the one that contours his cheek seem to want to connect and form a kind of scar in shadow.
—Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2023
But they were also imbued with a sense of impenitent joy that was paramount to the show.
—Tara Gonzalez, Harper's BAZAAR, 21 June 2023
Jan Dutkiewicz, Vox, 8 Aug. 2024
Among the various allegations put forward are reports of drugging and fascist group chats, slave labour and foot photograph farms, with the brand’s impenitent founder Stephan Marsan at its centre.
—Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 12 Apr. 2024
Just look at the impenitent subject: the deep furrow between his eyebrows and the one that contours his cheek seem to want to connect and form a kind of scar in shadow.
—Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2023
But they were also imbued with a sense of impenitent joy that was paramount to the show.
—Tara Gonzalez, Harper's BAZAAR, 21 June 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impenitent
Adjective
-
Amongst the sandy plains of the Burning Springs region and throngs of raiders and ruthless cap collectors is Prime Video’s Fallout character, The Ghoul (Walton Goggins).—
Destiny Jackson,
Deadline,
26 Feb. 2026
-
That’s thanks in one part to a gripping flash-forward narrative structure now so common it could be considered a cliché, and in another to Glenn Close’s indelible performance as ruthless litigator Patty Hewes.—
Matt Brennan,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
All came adorned and unrepentant in their right to adornment.—
Zoë Hopkins,
New Yorker,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Throughout his sentencing, the unrepentant Routh displayed contempt for the proceedings, even offering to trade his life in a prisoner swap.—
David Fischer,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Indeed, the covert interventions so central to the Cold War, which these men embodied, relied on some of the cruelest instruments in the tool kit of modern statecraft—assassination, coup d’état, mass murder, psychological manipulation, surrogate warfare, torture, and terror.—
Alfred McCoy,
Literary Hub,
26 Feb. 2026
-
In what has to be the cruelest Survivor fate ever, Francesca came back to avenge being voted out first… and was then promptly voted out first again!—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Impenitent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impenitent. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
