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
-
Eric claims to be remorseful, and makes a big point of it.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
5 Apr. 2025
-
Hoffman acknowledges the crime and is deeply remorseful, his attorney, Cecelia Kappel, told USA TODAY.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA TODAY,
18 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The young Jamie desperately wants his father’s approval, but his dad is ashamed of him.—
Avivah Wittenberg-Cox,
Forbes.com,
5 Apr. 2025
-
Waging war on Denmark is wrong and will damage U.S. defense and foreign relations for decades We Americans should be ashamed of ourselves and of our government.—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
29 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
In the moment, Fleury joked that Ovechkin’s on-ice salute was because the Russian sniper was sorry to see his favorite foil retire.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
13 Apr. 2025
-
Being objective about Trump is not in the Sun Sentinel’s opinion lexicon — sorry to say.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Following the producers’ warning, Rourke was apologetic.—
Daniel Kreps,
Rolling Stone,
13 Apr. 2025
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The drafts, sent back and forth between Bub and trustees, shift dramatically in tone from angry and defensive to conciliatory and apologetic to concise and professional.—
Carly Flandro,
Idaho Statesman,
4 Apr. 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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Your penitent correspondent humbly submits that the whole ritual has jumped the shark in Northeast Ohio.—
Sam Allard,
Axios,
7 Mar. 2025
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With an appropriately penitent look, Grant took a deep breath.—
Scott Huver,
The Hollywood Reporter,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Tsukasa is 26 and feeling a little wayward, regretful about his late start in figure skating.—
Kambole Campbell,
Vulture,
7 Mar. 2025
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Between plummeting resale values, trade-in rejections, vandalism with swastika graffiti and stickers on their cars, a growing movement of regretful Cybertruck owners are disguising their cars to avoid harassment, with some pointing their fingers directly at Tesla CEO Elon Musk.—
Ross Rosenfeld,
Newsweek,
26 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contrite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contrite. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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