Meaning & use
penitent
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Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Feeling or showing sincere regret for having done something wrong.
Grammar: Can be used before a noun (a penitent look) or after a linking verb (He seemed penitent).
Patterns
- be penitent about something
- a penitent expression
She was genuinely penitent about the way she had treated her friend.
He gave a penitent smile and apologized for the misunderstanding.
The penitent thief returned the stolen money.
nouncountableformalreligion
A person who feels or shows sorrow for wrongdoing, especially in a religious context.
Grammar: Countable; often used in religious settings: The priest spoke to the penitent.
Patterns
- a penitent
- the penitent
The priest listened carefully to each penitent.
In the painting, a penitent kneels before the altar.
The church welcomed the penitent back into the community.
Word forms
| comparative | more penitent |
|---|---|
| superlative | most penitent |
| plural | penitents |
Common combinations
- deeply penitent
- He was deeply penitent after realizing how much harm he had caused.
- a penitent expression
- She wore a penitent expression as she admitted her mistake.
- penitent about
- The company was penitent about the data leak and promised changes.
Synonyms and how they differ
- remorseful
- Focuses on the painful feeling of regret itself, while 'penitent' often suggests a willingness to make amends.
- contrite
- Similar but more formal and intense; often used when someone is eager to be forgiven.
- sorry
- Everyday and less formal; can be used for minor things, while 'penitent' implies serious wrongdoing.
Opposites
Word family
- penitence noun
- The state of feeling sorry for having done wrong.
- penitential adjective
- Relating to penance or expressing sorrow for sin.
- penitentiary noun
- A prison; originally a place for penance.
Commonly confused: penitent or penitentiary?
penitent vs penitentiary
A prison, not a person or feeling. 'Penitent' describes someone who is sorry.
Practice
After the scandal, the CEO appeared genuinely ______ and promised to repay the money.
Choose one answer.
The adjective 'penitent' fits after 'appeared' to describe the CEO's regret. 'Penitentiary' is a noun (prison), 'penitence' is a noun (the feeling), and 'penitential' is an adjective but describes acts of penance, not a person's state.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “penitent”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.