repentant

8 4.8

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

adjective
/rɪˈpɛntənt/

: arrepentido

He felt truly repentant after realizing the harm his actions had caused.
repentant violator

I, I think the question that a lot of people want to know is how do you know if your partner is repentant enough to make it work and to stay together?

Examples

Attention to the mercy of a forgiving spouse points toward Yahweh's treatment of the repentant.

Academic text (2004)
And to show how repentant I was, I even did a good deed.

Bedazzled (1967)
Only the repentant and the good, said my mother, was herself a god.

Academic text (1997)
Well, according to your church, as long as they are actually repentant, they will go to heaven.

Blog text (2)
God will forgive you, if your heart is truly repentant.

Assassin's Vow (2007)
Come to me with a repentant heart, and I will heal your land.

Blog text (30)
David was known for his repentant heart, not for his sin that God admired.

Blog text (18)
They wanted to stone her to death, but she was repentant.

Audacity (2015)
How will the repentant prodigal be reinstated in the household?

Academic text (2015)
Sondra had come back, repentant and bruised, emotionally and physically.

Fiction book (1997)

Synonyms

sorry

vsrepentant

∞ 1.0

Feeling regret for something you did

is sincere moral remorse aimed at wrongs rather than casual regret

apologetic

vsrepentant

28 3.7

Feeling sorry for something you did

is felt internally and may not include an expressed apology

remorseful

vsrepentant

18 4.6

Feeling very sorry for doing something that hurt someone

is felt with less emotional intensity than this expression

contrite

vsrepentant

13 8.1

Feeling very sorry for doing something wrong and wanting forgiveness

is felt less deeply and more moderate in intensity

regretful

vsrepentant

9 2.9

Feeling sorry for something you did or said

is focused on moral wrongdoing and sincere remorse rather than general regret

rueful

vsrepentant

5 7.8

Feeling sorry about something you did and showing it

is sincere remorse focused on a particular wrongdoing rather than general sadness

penitent

vsrepentant

4 7.1

Feeling sorry for doing something wrong and wanting forgiveness

is identical in meaning and use without significant difference

penitential

vsrepentant

1 9.9

Showing sorrow and regret for doing something wrong

does not require formal acts of penance or ritual

apologetical

vsrepentant

7.2

Showing that you are sorry for something

is sincere remorse that may exist even without wanting to apologize

ruthful

vsrepentant

Archaic

9.9

Feeling sorry or showing pity, often for harm you caused

is personal sincere regret rather than pity or outward compassion

Antonyms

unrepentant

18 7.5

Not feeling sorry for something and not wanting to change

How Repentant

contrite

13 8.1

penitent

4 7.1

repentant

8 4.8

regretful

9 2.9

sorry

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

repentant positive

Morphology

repentant = repent (transparent) = repent + ant

Formed from the verb 'repent' with the adjective-forming suffix '-ant', so the meaning is directly derived.

Etymology

The word repentant comes from a Latin root that meant 'to feel sorry' and is related to the English word penance, which means doing something to show regret. So, repentant describes someone who shows true regret for a wrong action.