atoner
One seeking forgiveness
One who atones—who makes amends for wrongdoing or seeks to repair harm caused.
The word carries religious and moral weight, suggesting someone actively working to offset past transgressions: He saw himself as an atoner, spending his final years in service to those he'd wronged.
One showing remorse
- apologizerOne who says sorry
- confessorPriest receiving admissions
- repenterOne expressing remorse
- amenderOne who revises
supplicant · wrongdoer · sinner · transgressor · offender · prodigal · reformed · seeker
Admission of wrongdoing
- fastingDeliberate food avoidance
- abstinenceVoluntary forgoing of indulgences
- mortificationIntense shame or embarrassment
- sacrificeGiving up something precious
self-denial · reparation · restitution · amends · expiation · purification · sackcloth · hairshirt
Formal clearing of guilt
- pardonOfficial release from punishment
- mercyCompassion toward offenders
- clemencyMerciful treatment of offenders
- graceEffortless beauty of motion
amnesty · exoneration · reprieve · remission · compassion · forbearance · indulgence · leniency
Deliverance from harm
- deliveranceRescue from bondage
- liberationRelease from constraint
- renewalMaking current again
- transformationThorough change in form
rebirth · recovery · rehabilitation · cleansing · restoration · reclamation · rescue · vindication
Guilt for wrongdoing
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- regretSorrow over past actions
- self-reproachBlaming oneself for wrongdoing
compunction · self-condemnation · repentance · sorrow · anguish · self-blame · culpability · conscience-stricken
penitent
One showing remorse
- apologizerOne who says sorry
- confessorPriest receiving admissions
- repenterOne expressing remorse
amender · supplicant · wrongdoer · sinner · transgressor · offender · prodigal · reformed · seeker · reconciler
confession
Admission of wrongdoing
- fastingDeliberate food avoidance
- abstinenceVoluntary forgoing of indulgences
- mortificationIntense shame or embarrassment
sacrifice · self-denial · reparation · restitution · amends · expiation · purification · sackcloth · hairshirt · flagellation
absolution
Formal clearing of guilt
- pardonOfficial release from punishment
- mercyCompassion toward offenders
- clemencyMerciful treatment of offenders
grace · amnesty · exoneration · reprieve · remission · compassion · forbearance · indulgence · leniency · condonation
salvation
Deliverance from harm
- deliveranceRescue from bondage
- liberationRelease from constraint
- renewalMaking current again
transformation · rebirth · recovery · rehabilitation · cleansing · restoration · reclamation · rescue · vindication · emancipation
remorse
Guilt for wrongdoing
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- regretSorrow over past actions
self-reproach · compunction · self-condemnation · repentance · sorrow · anguish · self-blame · culpability · conscience-stricken · heartache
atonerunrepentant
Feeling no remorse
impenitent · remorseless · unapologetic · unremorseful · denier
atonerperpetrator
One who commits wrongdoing
victimizer · harmer · repeat offender · wrongdoer · offender
- Day of AtonementSolemn Jewish repentance observance
- atonement theologyDoctrine of reconciliation with God
- atonal musicMusic without key
atone, atonement, atonal, atoning, atoned, atones, atonality, atonements