expiation
Paying for wrongdoing
Expiation is the act of making amends for wrongdoing or guilt.
Where atonement emphasizes reconciliation, expiation focuses on the cleansing or removal of sin through some compensating act—often suffering, sacrifice, or penance.
He viewed his years of charity work as expiation for the harm he'd caused.
The word carries religious overtones but applies to secular guilt as well.
Guilt for wrongdoing
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
- repentanceRemorseful rejection of past wrongs
- confessionAdmission of wrongdoing
- shamePainful awareness of failure
regret · culpability · self-reproach · conscience · penitence · compunction · self-punishment · self-blame
Sacred ritual table
- offeringSomething presented or given
- oblationReligious gift offering
- immolationSacrificial killing, often burning
- libationCeremonial drink offering
scapegoat · consecration · bloodshed · victim · rite · burnt offering · sin offering · hecatomb
Formal clearing of guilt
- redemptionRecovery or moral restoration
- reconciliationRestoration of friendly relations
- amendsCompensation for wrongdoing
- reparationCompensation for injury done
restitution · purgation · satisfaction · remission · indemnification · acquittal · exoneration · vindication
Admission of wrongdoing
- fastingDeliberate food avoidance
- flagellationBeating with a whip
- mortificationIntense shame or embarrassment
- disciplineTrained self-control or specialty
prayer · pilgrimage · scourging · self-denial · abstinence · humiliation · prostration · sackcloth
remorse
Guilt for wrongdoing
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
- repentanceRemorseful rejection of past wrongs
- confessionAdmission of wrongdoing
shame · regret · culpability · self-reproach · conscience · penitence · compunction · self-punishment · self-blame · torment
altar
Sacred ritual table
- offeringSomething presented or given
- oblationReligious gift offering
- immolationSacrificial killing, often burning
libation · scapegoat · consecration · bloodshed · victim · rite · burnt offering · sin offering · hecatomb · temple
absolution
Formal clearing of guilt
- redemptionRecovery or moral restoration
- reconciliationRestoration of friendly relations
- amendsCompensation for wrongdoing
reparation · restitution · purgation · satisfaction · remission · indemnification · acquittal · exoneration · vindication · clemency
confession
Admission of wrongdoing
- fastingDeliberate food avoidance
- flagellationBeating with a whip
- mortificationIntense shame or embarrassment
discipline · prayer · pilgrimage · scourging · self-denial · abstinence · humiliation · prostration · sackcloth · ashes
- Islamic Lawsharia, Sharia, Shariah, Islamic law, fatwa
- forgivenessforgiveness of sins, redemption, absolve, mercy, grace
- atonementsubstitution, reconciler, forgiveness, sin offering, making amends
- confessionconfession, absolution, admission, acknowledgment, declaration
- Penanceconfession booth, act of contrition, contrition, penitent, public penance
- sacrificeburnt offering, blood sacrifice, human sacrifice, animal sacrifice, immolation
expiationdefilement
Act of corrupting purity
corruption · desecration · moral corruption · dirtying · contamination
expiationsin
Violation of divine law
transgression · sinning · offense · wrongdoing · trespass
expiationunrepentance
Lack of remorse
impenitence · denial · evasion · defiance · impunity