penitential
adjective
pen·i·ten·tial
ˌpe-nə-ˈten(t)-shəl 
: of or relating to penitence or penance
Examples of penitential in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Inclement weather, a lack of footwear, and food and sleep deprivation all contribute to pilgrims’ immersion in the penitential suffering of purgatory.
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Lanta Davis and Vince Reighard, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Mar. 2024
During the 8th to 10th centuries, this practice fell by the wayside and the penitential season of Lent started being marked with ashes placed on the heads of the entire congregation.
—Chris Sims, The Courier-Journal, 14 Feb. 2024
The practices were somewhat penitential, but not as intense as those of Lent, and the spirit was much more preparation than penance.
—WSJ, 4 Jan. 2024
Sanctuary had for centuries grown detached from penitential discipline and become incorporated within royal criminal law, while the church’s emphasis shifted from the sacrality of space to jurisdictional immunity, which in turn became more closely linked to royal grants.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, The New York Review of Books, 3 Nov. 2020
See all Example Sentences for penitential 
Lanta Davis and Vince Reighard, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Mar. 2024
During the 8th to 10th centuries, this practice fell by the wayside and the penitential season of Lent started being marked with ashes placed on the heads of the entire congregation.
—Chris Sims, The Courier-Journal, 14 Feb. 2024
The practices were somewhat penitential, but not as intense as those of Lent, and the spirit was much more preparation than penance.
—WSJ, 4 Jan. 2024
Sanctuary had for centuries grown detached from penitential discipline and become incorporated within royal criminal law, while the church’s emphasis shifted from the sacrality of space to jurisdictional immunity, which in turn became more closely linked to royal grants.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, The New York Review of Books, 3 Nov. 2020
See all Example Sentences for penitential
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'penitential.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Penitential.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/penitential. Accessed 2 Oct. 2024.
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