as in remorseful
feeling sorrow for a wrong that one has done
being contrite is not enough to spare you a detention if you're caught skipping class
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Recent Examples of contrite
Guests might be more understanding of these lapses in service in amenities if room rates were reasonable and the hotels were more contrite.
—
Christopher Elliott, USA TODAY, 29 Nov. 2024
Power delivery, suspension tuning, and handling are almost contrite in Strada (Street) mode and borderline lethargic in pure EV mode.
—Brett Berk, Robb Report, 22 Oct. 2024
In Tuesday’s contrite letter to investors, Jun promised Samsung would address these and other issues head-on.
—Greg McKenna, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2024
According to a report from Autosport, Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali issued a contrite apology to the teams in the aftermath.
—Dan Cancian, Forbes, 16 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for contrite
Christopher Elliott, USA TODAY, 29 Nov. 2024
Power delivery, suspension tuning, and handling are almost contrite in Strada (Street) mode and borderline lethargic in pure EV mode.
—Brett Berk, Robb Report, 22 Oct. 2024
In Tuesday’s contrite letter to investors, Jun promised Samsung would address these and other issues head-on.
—Greg McKenna, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2024
According to a report from Autosport, Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali issued a contrite apology to the teams in the aftermath.
—Dan Cancian, Forbes, 16 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for contrite
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contrite
Adjective
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Whetstone said the power was with the poster and encouraged her mother to be remorseful, express mortification with her actions and work to make amends.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
31 Jan. 2025
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The victim's mother told the Daily Mail the teen does not appear to be remorseful.—
Christina Coulter,
Fox News,
17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The prime minister of Israel should be ashamed, knowing the history of his people, to stand there and allow such things to be said.—
Russel Honoré,
Newsweek,
5 Mar. 2025
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Baker is the advocate independent cinema needs — an auteur who’s not ashamed to entertain.—
Amy Nicholson,
Twin Cities,
1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The two would compete against each other in a contest that tested both brains and brawn (sorry, beauty tribe).—
Dalton Ross,
EW.com,
27 Feb. 2025
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Its latest victory came at San Mamés on Sunday—a 7-1 thrashing of sorry Real Valladolid.—
Henry Flynn,
Forbes,
25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The driver is apologetic but doesn’t budge, video shows.—
Mitchell Willetts,
Kansas City Star,
28 Jan. 2025
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Ricky must learn how to set his own schedule, something the constantly late and often apologetic man can’t seem to get a handle on.—
Matthew Creith,
IndieWire,
27 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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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
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Lyttleton discerned that if Saul was truly converted to Christ, the only explanation was the one Saul himself provided; namely, that the risen Christ appeared to him and called him to repentant faith.—
Dan Miller,
Twin Cities,
6 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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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
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Eighteen years later, playing the beloved daughter of Al Pacino’s Michael, she is shot dead on the steps of the opera house in Palermo, taking a bullet meant for the belatedly penitent godfather, who now comprehends without any doubt that there is no escaping the sins of his or his relatives’ past.—
Andrew Marzoni,
The New Republic,
3 Nov. 2023
Adjective
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Neither damning nor satiric, W. is oddly wistful, almost regretful — rare sentiments in a Stone film.—
Will Leitch,
Vulture,
17 Feb. 2025
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Reubens is candid and perhaps regretful about some of his controlling behavior on the show, and its eventual demise; ditto some of the choices made on Big Top Pee-Wee.—
Daniel Fienberg,
The Hollywood Reporter,
3 Sep. 2019
Cite this Entry
“Contrite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contrite. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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