contrite

[ kuhn-trahyt, kon-trahyt ]

adjective

1. caused by or showing sincere remorse.
2. filled with a sense of guilt and the desire for atonement; penitent:

   a contrite sinner.

   Synonyms: repentant, remorseful, rueful

contrite

/ kənˈtraɪt; ˈkɒntraɪt /

adjective

1. full of guilt or regret; remorseful
2. arising from a sense of shame or guilt

   contrite promises

3. theol remorseful for past sin and resolved to avoid future sin

Derived Forms

• conˈtritely, adverb
• conˈtriteness, noun

Other Words From

• con·tritely adverb
• con·triteness noun
• over·con·trite adjective
• over·con·tritely adverb
• over·con·triteness noun
• uncon·trite adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of contrite¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English contrit, from Anglo-French, from Latin contrītus “worn down, crushed,” past participle of conterere “to wear down, crush, crumble”; equivalent to con- + trite

Word History and Origins

Origin of contrite¹

C14: from Latin contrītus worn out, from conterere to bruise, from terere to grind

Example Sentences

When he sees and hears about what he has done, he is distraught and contrite.

From Los Angeles Times

Three weeks later, Churchill Downs rocked the racing world by saying it was suspending Baffert for two years from all its tracks, which made him ineligible to run in the Kentucky Derby, and then tacked on another year because it didn’t feel he was contrite enough.

From Los Angeles Times

Days later, Smith issued a contrite statement and resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

From New York Times

And following the verdict, the defendant himself, instead of acting contrite or respectfully pledging to continue his legal battle, denounced it all as “a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who is corrupt.”

From Salon

And while he has issued public apologies, Goecke has remained more defiant than contrite, and disturbingly equivocal: He has both admitted to overreacting and also tried to justify his behavior.

From New York Times

Related Words

• apologetic
• humble
• remorseful
• repentant
• sorry