penitent

¹pen·i·tent

adj \-tənt\

Definition of PENITENT

: feeling or expressing humble or regretful pain or sorrow for sins or offenses : repentant

— pen·i·tent·ly adverb

Examples of PENITENT

1. <a penitent gossip who had come to ask for forgiveness>

Origin of PENITENT

Middle English, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French penitent, from Latin paenitent-, paenitens, from present participle of paenitēre to cause regret, feel regret, perhaps from paene almost

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to PENITENT

Synonyms: apologetic, compunctious, contrite, regretful, remorseful, repentant, rueful, sorry

Antonyms: impenitent, remorseless, unapologetic, unrepentant

Related Words: ashamed, shamefaced, sheepish; dolorous, grieving, lugubrious, mournful, plaintive, sorrowful, wailing, weeping, woeful

Near Antonyms: compassionless, cruel, merciless, pitiless, ruthless, unmerciful; shameless, unashamed

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Other Religion (Eastern and Other) Terms

Zen, antinomian, avatar, gnosticism, illuminati, ineffable, karma, koan, mantra