penitent

Everyday

1. Penitent means feeling and showing that you are sorry for doing wrong. tree →
2. (church) A penitent is a person who confesses their sins to a priest or does penance. tree →

In the lessons

In religious stories and in ethics lessons a penitent person admits a wrong and wants to make it right; the father in the Prodigal Son story welcomes back his penitent son. In formal writing, «penitent» describes a sorry look or voice. Phrases: «a penitent sinner», «penitent tears», «look penitent».

Examples

• The penitent boy said sorry to his grandmother. tree →
• The puppy looked penitent after chewing the shoe. tree →
• The priest listened kindly to the penitent. tree →
• She wrote a penitent letter to her friend. tree →
• In the Bible story, the penitent son came home to his father. tree →
• Penitents in the old church wore plain clothes. tree →
• He was truly penitent and promised not to lie again. tree →

Note

Adjective and noun; formal. Adverb: penitently. Opposite: unrepentant. Related: penance, repent. Do not confuse with «penitentiary» (an old word for a prison, mainly USA).