penitential

Examples

• All

• I am here because the first step of my penitential pilgrimage among you is that of, again, asking forgiveness.

• Advent is a penitential season

  Academic text (2017)

• Laura offered to wear the penitential dress during the summer, when she was not attending school.

  Fiction book (1997)

• In part, the heated discussion was related to the role integrity played in Catholic penitential life.

  Academic text (1993)

• William May of Kingston reported that he devoted part of his Wednesday and Friday to catechizing during that penitential season.

  Academic text (2007)

• Cod is the most universal of the penitential fishes.

  Academic text (1991)

• The walks and outings I went on with my parents were regular penitential processions of shame and guilt.

  Fiction book (2002)

• In terms of sacramental practice, the Church can facilitate and embody conscientization through communal examinations of conscience and penitential liturgies.

  Academic text (2010)

• During the penitential season of Lent, many people focus on self-reflection and seeking forgiveness.

• The preacher delivered a penitential sermon, urging the congregation to repent for their wrongdoings.

Synonyms

R

remorseful

vspenitential

18 4.6

Feeling very sorry for doing something that hurt someone

tends to emphasize relation to penance more than personal depth

C

contrite

vspenitential

13 8.1

Feeling very sorry for doing something wrong and wanting forgiveness

is about sorrow that links to penance rather than just inner depth

R

repentant

vspenitential

8 4.8

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

focuses more on expressing sorrow or penance than on change

R

rueful

vspenitential

5 7.8

Feeling sorry about something you did and showing it

is used especially for sorrow tied to penance rather than general regret

P

penitent

vspenitential

4 7.1

Feeling sorry for doing something wrong and wanting forgiveness

is the adjective used often for formal acts of penance

E

expiatory

vspenitential

• Formal

1 9.9

Made to show someone is sorry and to make up for a wrong

is about showing sorrow or penance rather than the act of atonement

A

apologetical

vspenitential

7.2

Showing that you are sorry for something

expresses sorrow connected more with penance than mere apology

Antonyms

U

unrepentant

18 7.5

Not feeling sorry for something and not wanting to change

How Penitent

contrite

13 8.1

remorseful

18 4.6

penitential

1 9.9

repentant

8 4.8

sorry

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology