as in ashamed
feeling sorrow for a wrong that one has done
a penitent gossip who had come to ask for forgiveness
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of penitent
In the wake of the AP's investigation last year, Republican state Rep. Phil Lyman and Democratic Rep. Angela Romero announced plans to reform Utah's clergy-penitent privilege loophole.
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Sam Metz, ajc, 1 Mar. 2023
Her husband’s sudden, violent reaction to the joke, and his subsequent Best Actor speech that bobbed and weaved over the line between defiant and penitent, swallowed the rest of the night whole.
—Caroline Framke, Variety, 27 Mar. 2022
However, lawmakers returned six years later to reinstate the clergy-penitent privilege.
—Arizona Republic, 21 Apr. 2020
Even if absolution is denied, though, the exchange between penitent and confessor is to remain confidential.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Aug. 2019
See all Example Sentences for penitent 
Sam Metz, ajc, 1 Mar. 2023
Her husband’s sudden, violent reaction to the joke, and his subsequent Best Actor speech that bobbed and weaved over the line between defiant and penitent, swallowed the rest of the night whole.
—Caroline Framke, Variety, 27 Mar. 2022
However, lawmakers returned six years later to reinstate the clergy-penitent privilege.
—Arizona Republic, 21 Apr. 2020
Even if absolution is denied, though, the exchange between penitent and confessor is to remain confidential.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Aug. 2019
See all Example Sentences for penitent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penitent
Adjective
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Too many people too ashamed, suspicious, or fearful to speak.Martin McKenzie-Murray, SPIN, 7 Jan. 2025
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Don’t feel ashamed that your resume is missing a date, diploma, employment, or skill.AllBusiness, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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There’s no room for feeling sorry for ourselves in the NBA, in life in general.Anthony Slater, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025
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The teen’s attorney, Bob Dunlap, said at the time his client was sorry for what occurred.Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 7 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Meanwhile, the fans wearing Aaron Judge and Mariano Rivera jerseys who tried to pry the ball from Betts’ glove weren’t exactly remorseful.Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 27 Dec. 2024
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Hughie Campbell is walking with his girlfriend down the street when suddenly she's obliterated by a speeding A-Train, who doesn't really seem that remorseful.Gord Magill, Newsweek, 22 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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In his new statement, Suga took an even more repentant tone, apologizing for damaging his reputation and disappointing fans while opening himself to any further punishment.Justin Curto, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2024
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Released 24 years after a debut verse on an album no less auspicious than Outkast’s Stankonia, this was a veteran artist taking stock, vividly drawing the lines between the struggling kid and the grateful, repentant adult.Christopher R. Weingarten, Rolling Stone, 1 Aug. 2024
Adjective
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Everyone would be expecting a contrite performance from him, tepid jokes about male-female relationships, jokes about how horrible men were, and so on.Camille Bordas, Harper's Magazine, 2 May 2024
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Scotty was pretty contrite during the reunion, but Aria was clearly heartbroken.Laura Bradley, Vulture, 18 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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So either stage it or don’t, but packaging its grandeur with an apologetic shrug is trying to have it both ways.Justin Davidson, Vulture, 8 Jan. 2025
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Women were expected to be apologetic and submissive.Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Her scenes with Burstein are rich and funny and regretful; those with June (Jordan Tyson) and Louise (Joy Woods) are withering.Jesse Green, New York Times, 20 Dec. 2024
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Now, Nicole is speaking out about her regretful decision to share such a personal story about one of her past relationships.Giana Levy, refinery29.com, 17 Oct. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near penitent
Cite this Entry
“Penitent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penitent. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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