contrition
Americannoun
-
sincere penitence or remorse.
- Synonyms:
- regret, compunction
-
Theology. sorrow for and detestation of sin with a true purpose of amendment, arising from a love of God for His own perfections perfect contrition, or from some inferior motive, as fear of divine punishment imperfect contrition.
noun
-
deeply felt remorse; penitence
-
Christianity detestation of past sins and a resolve to make amends, either from love of God ( perfect contrition ) or from hope of heaven ( imperfect contrition )
Etymology
Origin of contrition
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English contricio(u)n, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin contrītiōn-, stem of contrītiō “grief,” literally, “a wearing down”; equivalent to contrite + -ion
Explanation
In the truest sense, contrition is feeling sorry for committing a religious sin and being scared about the consequences. But anyone can feel general contrition for something they've done wrong. Contrition is a strong, powerful feeling that people get when they've done something wrong. Originally, this feeling came from having sinned and a fear of going to hell for it. But over the years, the idea of contrition has gotten broader. Anyone can feel contrition if they do something wrong, whether it's a tiny thing like littering or a huge thing like murdering. If you did wrong and feel bad about it, you're feeling contrition — you're contrite.
Vocabulary lists containing contrition
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
I can still recite the Act of Contrition exactly as we learned it.
From Washington Post • May 24, 2019
Contrition was in order for Stormy Daniels’ lawyer, who said Thursday that he regretted comparing Rudolph W. Giuliani, the public face of President Trump’s legal team, to a pig in several interviews Wednesday.
From Washington Times • Jun. 7, 2018
Contrition is far more important than miracles in understanding Jesus the man and Christianity the belief.
From New York Times • Apr. 23, 2018
Contrition has been shown and apologies made to those affected – and I will say that I can still count as friends all the women I ever had a relationship with.
From The Guardian • Oct. 3, 2015
I crossed my forehead and prayed an Act of Contrition like I had for Narciso, but it was no good.
From "Bless Me, Ultima" by Rudolfo Anaya
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
