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
But with Cash on the vocals, the song and the man singing are nearly penitent.
—
Stephanie Kaloi and James Mercadante, EW.com, 21 Dec. 2024
Your penitent correspondent humbly submits that the whole ritual has jumped the shark in Northeast Ohio.
—Sam Allard, Axios, 7 Mar. 2025
With an appropriately penitent look, Grant took a deep breath.
—Scott Huver, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Feb. 2025
But with Cash on the vocals, the song and the man singing are nearly penitent.
—Stephanie Kaloi and James Mercadante, EW.com, 21 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for penitent
Stephanie Kaloi and James Mercadante, EW.com, 21 Dec. 2024
Your penitent correspondent humbly submits that the whole ritual has jumped the shark in Northeast Ohio.
—Sam Allard, Axios, 7 Mar. 2025
With an appropriately penitent look, Grant took a deep breath.
—Scott Huver, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Feb. 2025
But with Cash on the vocals, the song and the man singing are nearly penitent.
—Stephanie Kaloi and James Mercadante, EW.com, 21 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for penitent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penitent
Adjective
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To lose a series to the Edmonton Oilers is nothing to be ashamed about.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
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While red, inflamed skin was often seen as the norm, my flares—ranging from deep brown or purplish dry patches to clusters of tiny, itchy bumps—looked more like a disease to be feared and ashamed of rather than understood and treated.—
Raelle Kennedy,
Health,
12 May 2025
Adjective
-
That’s the million, sorry, billion-dollar question.—
Asli Pelit,
New York Times,
21 May 2025
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Nobody is going to feel sorry for you, so keep your head up and keep moving forward.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
21 May 2025
Adjective
-
Sorensen wrote in a sentencing memo that Smith – a disabled Marine Corps veteran with three children – is remorseful and takes responsibility for his actions.—
Sara Schilling,
Sacbee.com,
23 May 2025
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The men should have been there, looking remorseful, but during the first two hearings at which a total of 23 men were charged, only two came in person.—
Wendy Murphy,
Boston Herald,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Over these last weeks, however, I have been nudged into a repentant apology by his profound take on our political crisis and a sincere and accurate Christian analysis of the problems and deliberate practical steps the individual Christian citizen can take during this holy season.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2025
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Moore gives one of her quietest performances as repentant cowboy Kiefer’s former lover, Mary Alice.—
Eddie Mouradian,
Vulture,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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How did so many Germans become contrite about the Nazi past?—
Gary J. Bass,
New York Times,
22 Feb. 2025
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Van Buren returns shortly with a newly contrite attitude, having come around to his library’s merits and read up on Toth’s prior designs in Hungary.—
Anthony Paletta,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Wilson’s apologetic statement is a refreshing departure from the evasion of accountability that traditionally accompanies official debacles.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
8 May 2025
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Thank the positive reviewers and be polite and apologetic to negative reviewers.—
Jason Hennessey,
Rolling Stone,
2 May 2025
Adjective
-
Created in 2019 by Eastbound & Down's Danny McBride, the filthy HBO comedy centers around a family of corrupt, fast-talking televangelists led by John Goodman's aging and regretful Eli Gemstone.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
5 May 2025
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Ma and Tsai give strong performances that cast the dynamic as one not of scorn but of regretful misunderstanding.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
HollywoodReporter,
15 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Penitent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penitent. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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