as in remorse
a feeling of responsibility for wrongdoing
we were moved to forgive by his tearful expressions of contrition
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Recent Examples of contrition
The stewards still looked dimly on the matter despite noting his contrition, fining him €10,000 with €5,000 being suspended for 12 months.
—
Luke Smith, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
In the lead up to the party, Eady had expressed contrition to other cast members about her previous actions toward Moore.
—Kate Aurthur, Variety, 7 Apr. 2025
On Monday, Hochman submitted an 88-page court filing asking a judge to rescind the initial order for the re-sentencing hearing, arguing that the brothers have shown little contrition and are unwilling to take responsibility for the killings.
—Peter D'abrosca, Fox News, 12 Mar. 2025
Zuckerberg’s contrition – whether real, fake or somewhere in between – doesn’t really matter one way or the other, though.
—Rich Lowry, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contrition
Luke Smith, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
In the lead up to the party, Eady had expressed contrition to other cast members about her previous actions toward Moore.
—Kate Aurthur, Variety, 7 Apr. 2025
On Monday, Hochman submitted an 88-page court filing asking a judge to rescind the initial order for the re-sentencing hearing, arguing that the brothers have shown little contrition and are unwilling to take responsibility for the killings.
—Peter D'abrosca, Fox News, 12 Mar. 2025
Zuckerberg’s contrition – whether real, fake or somewhere in between – doesn’t really matter one way or the other, though.
—Rich Lowry, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contrition
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contrition
Noun
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Other defendants also used their final words to express remorse.—
Thomas Adamson,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2025
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Ruben Amorim, the picture of job-taker’s remorse, called it wrong.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
Noun
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An arrest does not constitute a finding of guilt: A 23-year-old woman from Peoria was arrested on charges of burglary and retail theft at 4:42 p.m. May 21 at North Washington Street and East Ogden Avenue.—
Steve Metsch,
Chicago Tribune,
28 May 2025
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For Omer Shem Tov, among the last of the hostages to be released before the ceasefire collapsed in March, there is an ever-present feeling of guilt.—
Jeremy Diamond,
CNN Money,
28 May 2025
Noun
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His ability to write across the ensemble turns the family into an unforgettable organism, pulsing with sadness and regret and a small, late-breaking surge of scrappy resilience.—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
7 June 2025
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Our only regret is that it wasn’t imposed many years ago when others like Vickrey or Mayors John Lindsay or Mike Bloomberg proposed it.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
6 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contrition.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contrition. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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