contrite

[ kuhn-trahyt, kon-trahyt ]
See synonyms for: contritecontriteness on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. caused by or showing sincere remorse.

  2. filled with a sense of guilt and the desire for atonement; penitent: a contrite sinner.

Origin of contrite

1
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

Other words for contrite

Other words from contrite

  • 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

Words Nearby contrite

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How to use contrite in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for contrite

contrite

/ (kənˈtraɪt, ˈkɒntraɪt) /


adjective
  1. full of guilt or regret; remorseful

  2. arising from a sense of shame or guilt: contrite promises

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

Origin of contrite

1
C14: from Latin contrītus worn out, from conterere to bruise, from terere to grind

Derived forms of contrite

  • contritely, adverb
  • contriteness, noun

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