contritely

Examples

• All

• The woman responded coldly and contritely.

  Fiction book (1996)

• "I'm terribly sorry," he says contritely.

• "I'm sorry," she said contritely.

  Fiction book (1993)

• I asked, "Did you say it?" and Muley said contritely, as if scared by the lawyer: "Yes."

  Fiction book (1994)

• "Now why are you being so ..." but she stopped herself from arguing and said contritely, "OK, they're on."

  Fiction book (2002)

• "Head bowed, Consuelo said contritely, "I will."

  Fiction book (1998)

• "Brother, don't talk like the miners." "You're right," Geode replied contritely, hunching his arms.

  Fiction book (1998)

• " Don't want no officers catchin' the wind from your big flappin' mouth." "Sorry, uh, Melvin," Eure said contritely.

  Fiction book (1992)

• Her expression suddenly changed, and she said contritely, "I'll only bore you," then quickly sliced him an adorably eager look that invited him to contradict her.

  Fiction book (1990)

• Milken has contritely asked for community service, acknowledging his past mistakes.

Synonyms

R

regretfully

vscontritely

• Formal

13 3.8

Saying something while feeling sorry, often when you tell bad news

shows genuine guilt for wrongdoing not just polite regret

R

ruefully

vscontritely

11 6.9

In a way that shows you feel sorry about something you did

is stronger, showing sincere guilt about wrongdoing

A

apologetically

vscontritely

8 3.9

In a way that shows you are sorry

expresses inner guilt sincerely rather than a spoken apology

G

guiltily

vscontritely

5 3.7

In a way that shows you feel you did something wrong

emphasizes sincere remorse and regret rather than only guilt feeling

S

sorrowfully

vscontritely

1 4.6

In a sad way that shows a person is sorry

implies guilt and sincere remorse rather than only sadness

R

remorsefully

vscontritely

1 5.8

Showing that you feel very sorry for something wrong you did

is similar but stresses sincere remorse specifically

P

penitently

vscontritely

1 7.2

In a way that shows you feel sorry for doing something wrong

focuses on sincere remorse rather than humble posture

A

ashamedly

vscontritely

1 6.8

In a way that shows you feel shame

focuses on remorse and repair more than personal shame

R

repentantly

vscontritely

7.7

In a way that shows regret for doing something wrong

is about sincere guilt rather than general regret

P

penitentially

vscontritely

9.6

In a way that shows you are very sorry

is more about sincere inner guilt than ritual penance

Antonyms

U

unrepentantly

1 8.2

In a way that shows no regret for actions or beliefs

How Contrite

remorsefully

1 5.8

contritely

1 7.9

apologetically

8 3.9

regretfully

• Formal

13 3.8

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology