atoners
Those seeking reconciliation
Those who atone—who make amends for wrongdoing or seek to repair harm they've caused.
The word carries religious and moral weight, suggesting genuine effort to correct past wrongs rather than mere apology: The atoners gathered at the memorial, seeking forgiveness from families of the victims.
Self-mortification for wrongdoing
- sackclothCoarse fabric for penance
- fastingDeliberate food avoidance
- prayerAddress to deity
- kneelingLowering onto bent legs
confession · absolution · shriving · mortification · self-flagellation · pilgrimage · ashes · lamentation
Deliverance from harm
- absolutionFormal clearing of guilt
- deliveranceRescue from bondage
- graceEffortless beauty of motion
- forgivenessReleasing resentment toward offenders
mercy · liberation · transformation · rebirth · renewal · purification · rehabilitation · vindication
Compensation for wrongdoing
- forgivenessReleasing resentment toward offenders
- reparationCompensation for injury done
- restitutionRestoring what was lost
- healingRestoration of health
peace · mending · restoration · rapprochement · olive-branch · handshake · dialogue · apology
Guilt for wrongdoing
- repentanceRemorseful rejection of past wrongs
- guiltMoral self-reproach
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- regretSorrow over past actions
sorrow · self-reproach · penance · apology · compunction · humility · confession · soul-searching
penance
Self-mortification for wrongdoing
kneeling · confession · absolution · shriving · mortification · self-flagellation · pilgrimage · ashes · lamentation · prostration
salvation
Deliverance from harm
- absolutionFormal clearing of guilt
- deliveranceRescue from bondage
- graceEffortless beauty of motion
forgiveness · mercy · liberation · transformation · rebirth · renewal · purification · rehabilitation · vindication · exoneration
amends
Compensation for wrongdoing
- forgivenessReleasing resentment toward offenders
- reparationCompensation for injury done
- restitutionRestoring what was lost
healing · peace · mending · restoration · rapprochement · olive-branch · handshake · dialogue · apology · settlement
remorse
Guilt for wrongdoing
- repentanceRemorseful rejection of past wrongs
- guiltMoral self-reproach
- shamePainful awareness of failure
regret · sorrow · self-reproach · penance · apology · compunction · humility · confession · soul-searching · abasement
atonersunrepentant
Feeling no remorse
recidivists · repeat offenders · deniers · blamers · impenitent
atonersperpetuators
Those who continue something
perpetrators · victimizers · abusers · tormentors · oppressors
- Day of AtonementSolemn Jewish repentance observance
- atonement theologyDoctrine of reconciliation with God