contrite

Examples

• All

• "Oh God, I'm sorry," he said, deeply contrite, "but I couldn't stop."

  Fiction book (1990)

• I come before you as but a servant, humble and contrite.

  Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)

• And he was not really that contrite in this debate.

• You gotta really seem contrite.

  Oz the Great and Powerful (2013)

• Her eyes, bigger than usual, seemed contrite and frightened.

  Fiction book (1993)

• Forgiveness is for those who have realized their mistakes and are truly contrite.

  Fiction book (2001)

• "Oh, come on, I didn't mean it that way," he says, looking honestly contrite.

  Fiction book (1992)

• Then the passenger window rolls down, revealing a contrite Lloyd at the wheel.

  Fiction book (1994)

• Jack was immediately contrite, stroking my face and pulling tissues out of his pockets.

  Fiction book (2002)

• Her suddenly contrite demeanor contrasted sharply with the professional poise she had assumed when speaking to the astralnauts.

  Fiction book (1999)

Synonyms

S

sorry

vscontrite

∞ 1.0

Feeling regret for something you did

convey much deeper guilt and sorrow for moral wrongdoing than casual regret

A

apologetic

vscontrite

28 3.7

Feeling sorry for something you did

show deeper sincere sorrow and inner guilt beyond social repair

R

remorseful

vscontrite

18 4.6

Feeling very sorry for doing something that hurt someone

express deeper humble sorrow and a stronger desire to repair harm

R

regretful

vscontrite

9 2.9

Feeling sorry for something you did or said

focus more on deep shame and moral guilt rather than simple sadness

R

repentant

vscontrite

8 4.8

Feeling sorry about something you did and wanting to make it right

show deeper sorrow and inner guilt rather than mere social repair

R

rueful

vscontrite

5 7.8

Feeling sorry about something you did and showing it

express stronger sincere sorrow and personal guilt rather than wry amusement

P

penitential

vscontrite

1 9.9

Showing sorrow and regret for doing something wrong

focus more on inner deep sorrow and personal moral regret

A

apologetical

vscontrite

7.2

Showing that you are sorry for something

are less about deep moral sorrow and more about social courtesy

R

ruthful

vscontrite

• Archaic

9.9

Feeling sorry or showing pity, often for harm you caused

emphasize personal guilty sorrow and desire to change rather than outward pity

Antonyms

U

unrepentant

18 7.5

Not feeling sorry for something and not wanting to change

R

remorseless

6 7.5

Not feeling sorry and continuing without stopping when hurting others

How Contrite

remorseful

18 4.6

contrite

13 8.1

regretful

9 2.9

sorry

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Etymology