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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Example Sentences
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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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Officers said Neal was remorseful during interviews.—
Silas Morgan,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 July 2025
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Central to his sentencing was whether Santos truly felt remorseful.—
Mychael Schnell,
The Hill,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Some of my relatives are gluten free, a friend is allergic to bacon, and a co-worker (who shall go unnamed but should be ashamed) loathes mayonnaise.—
Sarah Schutte,
National Review,
27 July 2025
-
Adopt don't shop, anyone breeding dogs like this should be ashamed of themselves.—
Maria Morava,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 July 2025
Adjective
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The Hunting Wives begins with a pretty basic soap opera premise: Sophie O’Neil (Brittany Snow) has just moved from Boston—sorry, Cambridge, where the show keeps reminding us Harvard is—to small-town Texas for her husband Graham’s (Evan Jonigkeit) new job.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
21 July 2025
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And so his hand was basically forced to be like, ‘Oh, sorry, my bandmember has serious mental-health problems.—
William Earl,
Variety,
21 July 2025
Adjective
-
Before their sentencing, Roger and Nigh were deeply apologetic.—
Emma Moon
July 16,
Charlotte Observer,
16 July 2025
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In the clip, Kardashian, Watts, and Nash-Betts can be seen holding an introductory meeting with an overwhelmed and apologetic client, played by Elizabeth Berkley.—
Emlyn Travis Published,
EW.com,
13 May 2025
Adjective
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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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When in the presence of God, one is meant to assume a penitent air.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 June 2025
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But in the intervening months, Mr. Santos has struggled to maintain that penitent posture.—
Grace Ashford,
New York Times,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Kim’s regretful aria in Act 1 — suspecting his own brother of his father’s murder, Artaserse has mistakenly ordered him to be executed — was a turning point.—
Hannah Edgar,
Chicago Tribune,
28 June 2025
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Even really successful cast members are a little regretful or self-deprecating about it, or feel anxious even talking about it.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
18 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contrite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contrite. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
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