atone
Right a wrong
To atone is to make amends for wrongdoing or sin.
The word carries a sense of compensating through action or sacrifice: He tried to atone for years of neglect by caring for her in her final days.
Religious contexts speak of atonement as reconciliation with God, while secular use focuses on repairing harm done to others.
Guilt for wrongdoing
- repentanceRemorseful rejection of past wrongs
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- regretSorrow over past actions
confession · self-reproach · penitence · sorrow · culpability · self-condemnation · compunction · conscience
Formal clearing of guilt
- confessionAdmission of wrongdoing
- purgatoryPlace of temporary suffering
- sinViolation of divine law
- propitiationAct of placating deity
sacrifice · penitent · shriving · reconciliation · sacrament · priest · temple · altar
Deliverance from harm
- forgivenessReleasing resentment toward offenders
- absolutionFormal clearing of guilt
- graceEffortless beauty of motion
- mercyCompassion toward offenders
reconciliation · purification · cleansing · renewal · rebirth · deliverance · sanctification · expiation
Restoring what was lost
- amendsCompensation for wrongdoing
- compensationPayment for services rendered
- redressCompensation for injury
- repaymentGiving back what's owed
rectify · restore · reparations · indemnity · settle · correct · reconcile · repair
Deliberate food avoidance
- pilgrimageReligious journey to shrine
- confessionAdmission of wrongdoing
- mortificationIntense shame or embarrassment
- self-denialRestraining one's own desires
sackcloth · flagellation · self-punishment · sacrifice · prostration · prayer · ritual · self-abasement
remorse
Guilt for wrongdoing
- repentanceRemorseful rejection of past wrongs
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
- shamePainful awareness of failure
regret · confession · self-reproach · penitence · sorrow · culpability · self-condemnation · compunction · conscience · wrongdoing
absolution
Formal clearing of guilt
- confessionAdmission of wrongdoing
- purgatoryPlace of temporary suffering
- sinViolation of divine law
propitiation · sacrifice · penitent · shriving · reconciliation · sacrament · priest · temple · altar · offering
salvation
Deliverance from harm
- forgivenessReleasing resentment toward offenders
- absolutionFormal clearing of guilt
- graceEffortless beauty of motion
mercy · reconciliation · purification · cleansing · renewal · rebirth · deliverance · sanctification · expiation · savior
restitution
Restoring what was lost
- amendsCompensation for wrongdoing
- compensationPayment for services rendered
- redressCompensation for injury
repayment · rectify · restore · reparations · indemnity · settle · correct · reconcile · repair · remedy
fasting
Deliberate food avoidance
- pilgrimageReligious journey to shrine
- confessionAdmission of wrongdoing
- mortificationIntense shame or embarrassment
self-denial · sackcloth · flagellation · self-punishment · sacrifice · prostration · prayer · ritual · self-abasement · vigil
- forgivenessforgiveness of sins, redemption, absolve, mercy, grace
- reconciliationreconciliation, reconcile, reconciled, reconciling, making up
- Sacred Languageamen, hallelujah, alleluia, hosanna, holy
- worship verbspray, bless, anoint, baptize, consecrate
- accountabilityaccountability, responsibility, accountable, take responsibility, answerability
- Apology wordsapology, oops, excuse me, pardon me, my bad
atoneoffend
Cause hurt feelings
transgress · reoffend · double down · sin · wrong
atonement, atonal, atoning, atoned, atoner, atones, atonality, atonements