self-reproach
Blaming oneself harshly
Self-reproach is blame directed at oneself—the inner voice that says you should have done better or acted differently.
It implies guilt or regret over a perceived failing: She was filled with self-reproach for not visiting her mother more often.
The word suggests ongoing internal criticism rather than a single pang of conscience.
Remorseful state over misdeeds
- atonementCompensation for wrongdoing
- repentanceRemorseful rejection of past wrongs
- penanceSelf-mortification for wrongdoing
- expiationRedress for offense
remorse · confession · absolution · redemption · amendment · reform · sorrow · mortification
Painful awareness of failure
- remorseGuilt for wrongdoing
- culpabilityDeserving blame for wrongdoing
- faultImperfection or blame
- responsibilityState of being answerable
blame · conscience · regret · wrongdoing · transgression · failing · shortcoming
Returned light or thought
- soul-searchingProbing one's innermost feelings
- ruminationProlonged, repetitive thinking
- contemplationSustained reflective attention
- broodingAnxiously dwelling on something
contrition
Remorseful state over misdeeds
- atonementCompensation for wrongdoing
- repentanceRemorseful rejection of past wrongs
- penanceSelf-mortification for wrongdoing
expiation · remorse · confession · absolution · redemption · amendment · reform · sorrow · mortification · humility
shame
Painful awareness of failure
- remorseGuilt for wrongdoing
- culpabilityDeserving blame for wrongdoing
- faultImperfection or blame
responsibility · blame · conscience · regret · wrongdoing · transgression · failing · shortcoming
reflection
Returned light or thought
- soul-searchingProbing one's innermost feelings
- ruminationProlonged, repetitive thinking
- contemplationSustained reflective attention
- guiltguilty, guilt trip, guilty conscience, remorseful, contrition
- moral emotionsguilt, shame, remorse, moral guilt, conscience
- Penanceconfession booth, act of contrition, contrition, penitent, public penance
- self-loathinginner critic, worthlessness, unworthiness, toxic shame, beating yourself up
- apologiessorry, forgive me, my mistake, mea culpa, sincere apology
- submissionsubmission hold, submitting, surrendering, capitulation, yielding
self-reproachself-forgiveness
Granting yourself absolution
clear conscience · self-satisfaction · self-congratulation · self-acceptance · self-compassion
self-reproachremorselessness
State of feeling no regret
impenitence · unrepentance · shamelessness · callousness · indifference
self, reproach, self-blame, self-condemnation, reproachful, reproachable, reproaching, reproached, self-criticism