penitent
adjective
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Definition of penitent
(Entry 1 of 2)
penitent
nounDefinition of penitent (Entry 2 of 2)
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Synonyms & Antonyms for penitent
Synonyms: Adjective
apologetic, compunctious, contrite, regretful, remorseful, repentant, rueful, sorry
Antonyms: Adjective
impenitent, remorseless, unapologetic, unrepentant
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Examples of penitent in a Sentence
Adjective
a penitent gossip who had come to ask for forgivenessRecent Examples on the Web: Adjective
Some former Shining Path fighters joined: los arrepentidos, the penitent ones. — Rachel Nolan, Harper's magazine, "A Jagged Scrap of History," 24 June 2019 If, for example, the penitent confesses from behind a screen, how can the confessor know for certain who is confessing? — Rob Taylor And, WSJ, "New Laws Require Priests to Break the ‘Seal of Confession’," 3 Aug. 2018 Darrell Larson portrays him, these many years later, as a penitent figure who might just have some heroism inside. — Daryl H. Miller, latimes.com, "'The Ballad of Bimini Baths' plunges into L.A. history," 15 June 2018 Facebook executives did a penitent tour through the halls of media and the Capitol, offering apologies and begging for the public’s forgiveness. — Jacob Silverman, Longreads, "Searching for a Future Beyond Facebook," 2 May 2018 Confidential relationships between a priest and a penitent, and a doctor and a patient, and a lawyer and a client. — Fox News, "Alan Dershowitz on White House dinner, Cohen raid," 10 Apr. 2018 There’s been nothing penitent or muted about Cousins this year. — Nathaniel Friedman, GQ, "Boogie Makes the NBA Better," 30 Jan. 2018 Weinstein’s own version tellingly vacillates in tone from the penitent to the petulant. — Megan Garber, The Atlantic, "What Harvey Weinstein's Apology Reveals," 5 Oct. 2017 Some people approached the booth with a penitent air. — Scott Herhold, The Mercury News, "What happens in the Truth Booth in Palo Alto," 19 Apr. 2017Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Some of the penitents had their backs inflicted with cuts to keep them bloody. — Washington Post, "Devotees reenact Good Friday crucifixions in Philippines," 30 Mar. 2018 The crowd grows so dense — easily in the hundreds — that when we are finally admitted into the garden, the mass of humanity moves along the path like a slow procession of super stylish penitents. — Carolina A. Miranda, latimes.com, "Sanctity and sex in installations devoted to chapels and cruising at Venice Architecture Biennale," 27 May 2018 Prior to the cross nailings, dozens of male penitents walked several kilometers (miles) along village streets while beating their bare backs with sharp bamboo sticks and pieces of wood. — Time, "Catholic Devotees Were Nailed to Crosses for Good Friday in the Philippines," 30 Mar. 2018 Prior to the cross nailings, dozens of male penitents walked several kilometers (miles) along village streets while beating their bare backs with sharp bamboo sticks and pieces of wood. — Aaron Favila, chicagotribune.com, "Filipino devotees being nailed to crosses on Good Friday becomes tourist attraction," 30 Mar. 2018 Prior to the crucifixions, dozens of male penitents walked several kilometers (miles) through village streets, beating their bare backs with sharp bamboo sticks and pieces of wood. — Washington Post, "Devotees reenact Good Friday crucifixions in Philippines," 30 Mar. 2018 Often the penitents wash up and hastily change back into plain clothes to be able to do it. — Text By Gaia Pianigiani, New York Times, "Religious Rite Takes Hamlet Back in Time Every Seven Years," 10 Sep. 2017 The seven days culminate with a Sunday procession, which includes hundreds of self-flagellating, hooded penitents. — Text By Gaia Pianigiani, New York Times, "Religious Rite Takes Hamlet Back in Time Every Seven Years," 10 Sep. 2017 Some of the penitents flagellated themselves while walking for hours, beseeching the Madonna to heal them or to cure their sick children. — Text By Gaia Pianigiani, New York Times, "Religious Rite Takes Hamlet Back in Time Every Seven Years," 10 Sep. 2017These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'penitent.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for penitent
penitent
adjective
English Language Learners Definition of penitent
(Entry 1 of 2)
penitent
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of penitent (Entry 2 of 2)
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penitent
adjective
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Kids Definition of penitent
(Entry 1 of 2)
penitent
nounKids Definition of penitent (Entry 2 of 2)
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