as in ashamed
feeling sorrow for a wrong that one has done
a penitent gossip who had come to ask for forgiveness
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of penitent
When in the presence of God, one is meant to assume a penitent air.
—
Literary Hub,
20 June 2025
For his part, the boy is quiet and seems penitent, making the cell a calming refuge for Dean within an institution unofficially ruled by a cutthroat mini mob boss, Freddie (Ishay Lalosh).
—
Judy Berman,
Time,
2 May 2025
But in the intervening months, Mr. Santos has struggled to maintain that penitent posture.
—
Grace Ashford,
New York Times,
24 Apr. 2025
Your penitent correspondent humbly submits that the whole ritual has jumped the shark in Northeast Ohio.
—
Sam Allard,
Axios,
7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for penitent
Literary Hub,
20 June 2025
For his part, the boy is quiet and seems penitent, making the cell a calming refuge for Dean within an institution unofficially ruled by a cutthroat mini mob boss, Freddie (Ishay Lalosh).
—
Judy Berman,
Time,
2 May 2025
But in the intervening months, Mr. Santos has struggled to maintain that penitent posture.
—
Grace Ashford,
New York Times,
24 Apr. 2025
Your penitent correspondent humbly submits that the whole ritual has jumped the shark in Northeast Ohio.
—
Sam Allard,
Axios,
7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for penitent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penitent
Adjective
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Both candidates should be ashamed of themselves for intentionally ignoring a group of American citizens and voters.
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Crowdpleasers are nothing to be ashamed of.
Adjective
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For this particular one, there was the cat stuff, but also there was the Monica dating stuff, which is very much based on my horrific experiences, sorry to say.
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These things are around for so much longer than any of us — sorry to bring death into it.
Adjective
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Mazzei asked whether Heuermann was truly remorseful.
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Peters doesn’t appear especially remorseful.
Adjective
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Johnson wrote in a letter in the filing to the Illinois review board that Hoover is repentant and has the potential and the desire to live the rest of his life as a force for good in his community.
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Perry had been reluctant to engage with recovery groups in the past, which are often structured around repentant confessions.
Adjective
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McGuire indicated that Sorsby is contrite about it all and said that the quarterback could speak publicly soon.
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Did Ye really write, or at least authorize, that contrite statement in the Wall Street Journal?
Adjective
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Be apologetic for the inconvenience.
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Streep imitated how Hawn, 80, would arrive on set, always apologetic.
Adjective
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But with Hoskins facing the Phillies once again, now as a member of the Cleveland Guardians, Harper sent a regretful response on that decision.
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Dusabejambo listened to harrowing stories from survivors and heard brutal confessions from regretful perpetrators.
Cite this Entry
“Penitent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penitent. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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