as in ruthless
not sorry for having done wrong
an impenitent criminal who said he'd do it all over again, given the chance
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Recent Examples of impenitent
For her part, having faced such criticism for over four decades, Newkirk remains blissfully impenitent.
—
Jan Dutkiewicz, Vox, 8 Aug. 2024
Among the various allegations put forward are reports of drugging and fascist group chats, slave labour and foot photograph farms, with the brand’s impenitent founder Stephan Marsan at its centre.
—Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 12 Apr. 2024
Just look at the impenitent subject: the deep furrow between his eyebrows and the one that contours his cheek seem to want to connect and form a kind of scar in shadow.
—Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2023
But they were also imbued with a sense of impenitent joy that was paramount to the show.
—Tara Gonzalez, Harper's BAZAAR, 21 June 2023
Jan Dutkiewicz, Vox, 8 Aug. 2024
Among the various allegations put forward are reports of drugging and fascist group chats, slave labour and foot photograph farms, with the brand’s impenitent founder Stephan Marsan at its centre.
—Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 12 Apr. 2024
Just look at the impenitent subject: the deep furrow between his eyebrows and the one that contours his cheek seem to want to connect and form a kind of scar in shadow.
—Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2023
But they were also imbued with a sense of impenitent joy that was paramount to the show.
—Tara Gonzalez, Harper's BAZAAR, 21 June 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impenitent
Adjective
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When a ruthless despot steals a billion-dollar fortune, the team is sent to steal it back on what would be for anyone else a suicide mission.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
14 May 2026
-
Assayas offers anecdotes, a feuilleton of tyranny in which the foibles of the mighty and the ruthless reveal the sentimental side of cruelty, the amusement value of ugly deeds, and the polite side of monstrous ideas.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
13 May 2026
Adjective
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Often described as a prophetic American text, Melville’s novel warns of the dangers of following an unrepentant leader on myopic pursuits.—
Time,
Time,
30 Apr. 2026
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And then there's Alden Ehrenreich, who plays the part of our infuriating, unrepentant a-hole.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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In Sylvie’s imagination, Nita becomes Anna, a sultry beauty with a cruel streak who has been dating the meek Christophe (Niney) while secretly engaging in an affair with their married boss, Pierre (Cassel).—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
15 May 2026
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The first major climb of any Grand Tour is usually a cruel dose of reality — where teams, having built around a rider over the previous week, suddenly realise those sacrifices might have been in vain.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Impenitent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impenitent. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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