mea culpa

contrition

Remorseful state over misdeeds

• repentanceRemorseful rejection of past wrongs
• atonementCompensation for wrongdoing
• penanceSelf-mortification for wrongdoing

absolution · expiation · redemption · sorrow · compunction · self-flagellation · sackcloth and ashes · humility · mortification · breast-beating

confession

Admission of wrongdoing

• absolutionFormal clearing of guilt
• sinViolation of divine law
• forgivenessReleasing resentment toward offenders

penance · priest · confessional · sacrament · liturgy · mass · Catholic · prayer · penitent · rite

shame

Painful awareness of failure

• blameAssign responsibility for wrongdoing
• faultImperfection or blame
• responsibilityState of being answerable

wrongdoing · transgression · self-blame · conscience · remorse · regret · self-reproach · pangs of conscience · guilty conscience · burden

acknowledgment

Confirmation of receipt

• confessionAdmission of wrongdoing
• concessionYielding a point
• disclosureAct of revealing information

avowal · declaration · owning up · acceptance · recognition · admittance · revelation · coming clean · accountability · responsibility

sorry

Expressing regret or apology

• apologizeAcknowledge a fault
• forgivenessReleasing resentment toward offenders
• pardonOfficial release from punishment

amends · excuse · reconciliation · reparation · make good · olive branch · peace offering · make amends · ask forgiveness · beg pardon

• accountabilityaccountability, responsibility, accountable, take responsibility, answerability
• apologiessorry, forgive me, my mistake, sincere apology, I am sorry
• Biblical ExpressionsGarden of Eden, David and Goliath, Good Samaritan, prodigal son, forbidden fruit
• declarationsdeclaration, declarations, proclamation, proclamations, announcement
• disclosurerevealing, disclosing, disclosure, disclose, divulge
• guiltguilty, guilt trip, guilty conscience, remorseful, contrition