as in remorse
a feeling of responsibility for wrongdoing
the sincerity of the player's penitence is questionable—he began to express remorse only after the suspension was handed down
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Recent Examples of penitence
It is preceded by Shrove Tuesday and marks the first day of Lent, the six weeks of penitence before Easter, which falls on April 20 this year.
—
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post, 5 Mar. 2025
It was initially conceived as a time of fasting and penitence, not unlike Lent, during which observant Christians prepared themselves to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas.
—Deborah Netburn, Los Angeles Times, 30 Nov. 2024
Some could bring only fear, and the probability of future fear was dependent on the probability of past fear, as well as on the parent’s over-all chance of penitence.
—Weike Wang, The New Yorker, 11 July 2024
In the justice system of early modern Europe, public executions offered a spectacle of both punishment and penitence.
—Katrina Gulliver, JSTOR Daily, 13 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for penitence
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post, 5 Mar. 2025
It was initially conceived as a time of fasting and penitence, not unlike Lent, during which observant Christians prepared themselves to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas.
—Deborah Netburn, Los Angeles Times, 30 Nov. 2024
Some could bring only fear, and the probability of future fear was dependent on the probability of past fear, as well as on the parent’s over-all chance of penitence.
—Weike Wang, The New Yorker, 11 July 2024
In the justice system of early modern Europe, public executions offered a spectacle of both punishment and penitence.
—Katrina Gulliver, JSTOR Daily, 13 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for penitence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penitence
Noun
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Fritz replied that the language of the letter showed empathy and remorse.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Matthew Harris, of Oakland, allegedly confessed in full to the Wells Fargo bank robbery, expressing remorse and blaming his addiction to fentanyl, authorities said.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
An arrest does not constitute a finding of guilt.—
Steve Metsch,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
-
And grief is not the same as guilt.—
Christine Pelisek,
PEOPLE,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
His only regret from this first term is agreeing to use $5 million of American Rescue Plan Act money to renovate the Memorial Opera House.—
Shelley Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
-
Kounalakis has no regrets about her decision.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
That’s a shame, particularly in an entertainment landscape dominated by recycled IP.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
4 May 2026
-
Even when precautions were necessary, presidents once felt shame about their distance from the people.—
Neil Flanagan,
The Atlantic,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Penitence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penitence. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
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