penitent
Seeking divine forgiveness
Penitent describes someone who feels or shows sorrow for wrongdoing and a desire to make amends.
The word carries religious overtones—a penitent sinner seeks forgiveness from God.
As a noun, a penitent is one who confesses sins to a priest: The penitent knelt in the confessional.
Outside religious contexts, penitent suggests genuine remorse rather than mere regret: He returned, penitent, hoping she'd forgive him.
Feeling guilt over misdeeds
- remorsefulFeeling guilt for wrongdoing
- sorryExpressing regret or apology
- regretfulFeeling sorrow over actions
- ashamedFeeling guilt and disgrace
apologetic · rueful · shamefaced · compunctious · chagrined · humbled · chastened · sorrowful
Formal clearing of guilt
- admissionEntry or confession
- acknowledgmentConfirmation of receipt
- priestOne who performs sacraments
- sacramentSacred ritual conveying grace
confessional · reconciliation · disclosure · rite · forgiveness · contrition · expiation · divulgence
Compensation for injury done
- restitutionRestoring what was lost
- amendsCompensation for wrongdoing
- expiationRedress for offense
- propitiationAct of placating deity
satisfaction · recompense · sacrifice · purification · mortification · indemnity · compensation · absolution
Deliverance from harm
- forgivenessReleasing resentment toward offenders
- graceEffortless beauty of motion
- mercyCompassion toward offenders
- deliveranceRescue from bondage
absolution · pardoned · reconciliation · cleansed · sanctified · reborn · savior · liberation
Religious journey-taker
- devoteeZealous admirer or follower
- sinnerViolator of moral law
- supplicantOne who humbly entreats
- confessorPriest receiving admissions
monk · ascetic · novice · convert · proselyte · faithful · worshipper · believer
Recovery from injury/addiction
- amendmentChange to official text
- transformationThorough change in form
- renewalMaking current again
- changeTo make different
betterment · correction · improvement · resolve · recidivism · backsliding · reformed · rehabilitated
contrite
Feeling guilt over misdeeds
- remorsefulFeeling guilt for wrongdoing
- sorryExpressing regret or apology
- regretfulFeeling sorrow over actions
ashamed · apologetic · rueful · shamefaced · compunctious · chagrined · humbled · chastened · sorrowful · guilt-ridden
absolution
Formal clearing of guilt
- admissionEntry or confession
- acknowledgmentConfirmation of receipt
- priestOne who performs sacraments
sacrament · confessional · reconciliation · disclosure · rite · forgiveness · contrition · expiation · divulgence · secrecy
reparation
Compensation for injury done
- restitutionRestoring what was lost
- amendsCompensation for wrongdoing
- expiationRedress for offense
propitiation · satisfaction · recompense · sacrifice · purification · mortification · indemnity · compensation · absolution · cleansing
salvation
Deliverance from harm
- forgivenessReleasing resentment toward offenders
- graceEffortless beauty of motion
- mercyCompassion toward offenders
deliverance · absolution · pardoned · reconciliation · cleansed · sanctified · reborn · savior · liberation · renewal
pilgrim
Religious journey-taker
- devoteeZealous admirer or follower
- sinnerViolator of moral law
- supplicantOne who humbly entreats
confessor · monk · ascetic · novice · convert · proselyte · faithful · worshipper · believer · pious
rehabilitation
Recovery from injury/addiction
- amendmentChange to official text
- transformationThorough change in form
- renewalMaking current again
change · betterment · correction · improvement · resolve · recidivism · backsliding · reformed · rehabilitated · restored
- apologiessorry, forgive me, my mistake, mea culpa, sincere apology
- believersbeliever, believers, adherent, devotee, theist
- forgivenessforgiveness of sins, redemption, absolve, mercy, grace
- asceticsascetic, ascetics, hermit, hermits, recluse
- confessionconfession, absolution, admission, acknowledgment, declaration
- Penanceconfession booth, act of contrition, contrition, shrift, confessional
penitentimpenitent
Feeling no regret
unrepentant · remorseless · unremorseful · unapologetic · unashamed
penitentbrazen
Shamelessly bold
callous · hard-hearted · hardhearted · unabashed · unblushing
penitentdefiant
Openly resisting control
shameless · brazen · unabashed · unembarrassed · bold-faced
- state penitentiaryGovernment-run facility for serious offenders
- penitential psalmsSacred songs expressing remorse
penitence, penitentiary, penitential, penitents, penitently, penitences