penitence

penitence

noun

Definition of PENITENCE

a feeling of responsibility for wrongdoing <the sincerity of the player's penitence is questionable—he began to express remorse only after the suspension was handed down>

Synonyms contriteness, contrition, penitence, regret, remorse, remorsefulness, repentance, rue, self-reproach, shame

Related Words compunction, misgiving, prick, qualm, scruple; blame, culpability, fault; liability, rap, responsibility; chagrin, embarrassment; anguish, distress, grief, ruth, sadness, sorrow; bloodguilt, bloodguiltiness; apology, excuses, hand-wringing, mea culpa

Antonyms impenitence, remorselessness