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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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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Later, Pryor’s widow Jennifer confirmed the rumor, telling TMZ that her late husband was always open about his bisexuality with friends and would not be ashamed that the relationship was revealed publicly.Stephanie Petit, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024
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In Horse Crazy, Indiana’s first and best novel, his unnamed narrator invites a prospective boyfriend to his similarly cluttered apartment and feels ashamed—not of its mess, exactly, but of the sheer number of books on his shelves.Daniel Felsenthal, The Atlantic, 29 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Moana 2, the sequel to everybody’s favorite Lin-Manuel Miranda–scored Disney movie (sorry, Encanto), is heading straight for movie theaters today, compelling all families with children aged 4 to 12 to go to the movies over Thanksgiving break.Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 27 Nov. 2024
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And sorry, Santa, no one squeezes through tight spaces in a building to get the job done – in the case of this classic action film, thwarting terrorists and saving his estranged wife – better than Bruce Willis' iconic John McClane. 6.Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 27 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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When deputies showed up at his home, Colin Gray did not appear remorseful, Ward testified.Devon M. Sayers, CNN, 22 Oct. 2024
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In jail, her friends had coached her to appear remorseful but not to cry, because no one likes self-pity.Lizzie Presser, ProPublica, 28 Sep. 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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Power delivery, suspension tuning, and handling are almost contrite in Strada (Street) mode and borderline lethargic in pure EV mode.Brett Berk, Robb Report, 22 Oct. 2024
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In Tuesday’s contrite letter to investors, Jun promised Samsung would address these and other issues head-on.Greg McKenna, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Lanez recorded an apologetic phone call to Pete’s friend that night from jail, but later denied shooting her.Andrew R. Chow, TIME, 31 Oct. 2024
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The resulting track is at once swaggering and apologetic.Tom Roland, Billboard, 18 Sep. 2024
Adjective
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He's earned this opportunity by growing into what appears to be a good young man after being, like many of us, a youth full of regretful decisions.Phil Hay, The Athletic, 3 Aug. 2024
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Neither damning nor satiric, W. is oddly wistful, almost regretful — rare sentiments in a Stone film.Will Leitch, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near penitent
Cite this Entry
“Penitent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penitent. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.
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