Meaning & use
contrite
Last updated
Meaning
adjectivecomparable
Feeling deeply sorry and ashamed about something wrong you have done, and showing it.
Grammar: Used before a noun (a contrite apology) or after a linking verb (he looked contrite); the person is contrite, not the act.
Patterns
- contrite about something
- feel contrite
- a contrite someone
After shouting at his sister, he stood in the doorway looking thoroughly contrite.
The company issued a contrite statement admitting that the delay was its own fault.
She gave a contrite smile and offered to pay for the broken vase.
Word forms
| comparative | more contrite |
|---|---|
| superlative | most contrite |
Common combinations
- look contrite
- The puppy looked contrite beside the chewed slipper.
- a contrite apology
- His contrite apology softened her anger.
- feel contrite
- I felt contrite as soon as I saw how much I had hurt her.
- contrite expression
- He wore a contrite expression throughout the meeting.
- deeply contrite
- The player was deeply contrite about his reckless tackle.
Synonyms and how they differ
- remorseful
- Remorseful stresses the inner pain of guilt, while contrite also suggests a humble readiness to make amends.
- repentant
- Repentant often carries a moral or religious tone and implies a decision to change, which contrite does not require.
- sorry
- Sorry is the everyday word and can be mild or even polite only, whereas contrite always suggests serious regret.
- penitent
- Penitent is more formal and often linked to religious confession or punishment.
Opposites
Word family
- contritely adverb
- in a way that shows deep regret
- contriteness noun
- the quality of being sorry for wrongdoing
- contrition noun
- deep and sincere regret for a wrong
Commonly confused: contrite or contrive?
contrite vs contrive
Contrive means to plan or invent something cleverly, and has nothing to do with feeling sorry.
Practice
After missing his friend's wedding without warning, Dan sent a ___ letter promising to make it up to them.
Choose one answer.
Contrite describes a letter showing sincere regret. Defiant, boastful and casual all suggest no remorse, which does not fit a promise to make amends.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “contrite”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.