contritely
In penitent manner
Contritely means in a manner showing sincere remorse or guilt.
Someone who apologizes contritely acknowledges their wrongdoing with genuine regret: He contritely admitted he'd been wrong to lie.
The word suggests more than surface-level apology—it implies feeling truly sorry rather than just going through the motions.
With feelings of sorrow
- remorsefullyWith sorrowful self-reproach
- apologeticallyIn a sorry manner
- ruefullyWith sorrowful regret
- shamefacedlyIn an embarrassed manner
sheepishly · guiltily · ashamedly · sorrowfully · repentantly · abashedly · mea culpa · confession
In docile manner
- modestlyIn humble manner
- humblyWithout pride or arrogance
- submissivelyIn yielding deference
- deferentiallyWith respectful yielding
self-effacingly · demurely · unassumingly · lowly · respectfully · obediently · gently · mildly
With sincere regret
- penanceSelf-mortification for wrongdoing
- absolutionFormal clearing of guilt
- confessionAdmission of wrongdoing
- atonementCompensation for wrongdoing
expiation · reparation · sackcloth · ashes · kneeling · prostrate · sin · guilt
regretfully
With feelings of sorrow
- remorsefullyWith sorrowful self-reproach
- apologeticallyIn a sorry manner
- ruefullyWith sorrowful regret
shamefacedly · sheepishly · guiltily · ashamedly · sorrowfully · repentantly · abashedly · mea culpa · confession · apology
meekly
In docile manner
- modestlyIn humble manner
- humblyWithout pride or arrogance
- submissivelyIn yielding deference
deferentially · self-effacingly · demurely · unassumingly · lowly · respectfully · obediently · gently · mildly · docilely
repentantly
With sincere regret
- penanceSelf-mortification for wrongdoing
- absolutionFormal clearing of guilt
- confessionAdmission of wrongdoing
atonement · expiation · reparation · sackcloth · ashes · kneeling · prostrate · sin · guilt · compunction
contritelyimpenitently
Without feeling sorry
unrepentantly · remorselessly · unapologetically · shamelessly · brazenly
contritelydefiantly
In open resistance
proudly · arrogantly · boldly · brashly · audaciously