Synonym Chooser

How is the word penitence distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of penitence are compunction, contrition, remorse, and repentance. While all these words mean "regret for sin or wrongdoing," penitence implies sad and humble realization of and regret for one's misdeeds.

absolution is dependent upon sincere penitence

Where would compunction be a reasonable alternative to penitence?

While in some cases nearly identical to penitence, compunction implies a painful sting of conscience especially for contemplated wrongdoing.

had no compunctions about taking back what is mine

When could contrition be used to replace penitence?

The meanings of contrition and penitence largely overlap; however, contrition stresses the sorrowful regret that constitutes true penitence.

tearful expressions of contrition

When can remorse be used instead of penitence?

While the synonyms remorse and penitence are close in meaning, remorse suggests prolonged and insistent self-reproach and mental anguish for past wrongs and especially for those whose consequences cannot be remedied.

thieves untroubled by feelings of remorse

In what contexts can repentance take the place of penitence?

The words repentance and penitence are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, repentance adds the implication of a resolve to change.

repentance accompanied by a complete change of character

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 penitence It was initially conceived as a time of fasting and penitence, not unlike Lent, during which observant Christians prepared themselves to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas. Deborah Netburn, Los Angeles Times, 30 Nov. 2024 Some could bring only fear, and the probability of future fear was dependent on the probability of past fear, as well as on the parent’s over-all chance of penitence. Weike Wang, The New Yorker, 11 July 2024 In many religions, the sacrifice of hair can signal penitence. Vanessa Friedman, New York Times, 27 Oct. 2023 In the justice system of early modern Europe, public executions offered a spectacle of both punishment and penitence. Katrina Gulliver, JSTOR Daily, 13 Mar. 2023 See All Example Sentences for penitence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penitence
Noun
  • In a sentencing order, the judge said Martinez’s refusal to express remorse for his criminal conduct closed off the judge’s ability to deliver a sentence lower than the 34 months requested by prosecutors.
    Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2025
  • And although Abe offered remorse for Japan’s war crimes at a summit in Indonesia in 2015, the following day three of his cabinet ministers visited the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, a memorial to Japan’s war dead and widely seen as a symbol of its militarism.
    Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • That feeling of guilt, in other words, can be better described as fear of missing out.
    Arpon Basu, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Whether tackling working-parent guilt or the challenges of caring for a newborn, some of the most popular video games are telling stories that tap into contemporary anxieties about parenting.
    G Kirilloff, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Israel-Premier Tech expressed its regret following the event, which resulted in the cancellation of the race’s finale and traditional podium ceremony.
    Pau Mosquera, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2025
  • One taught me about living and dying; the other taught me about envy and regret.
    Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 13 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • But people can get very emotional about money, experiencing feelings from scarcity and fear to greed, anxiety, shame, and guilt.
    Gabriel Shahin, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
  • The shame falls on the person who betrayed me.
    Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 11 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Penitence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penitence. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

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