contrite

[ kuhn-trahyt, kon-trahyt ]

/ kənˈtraɪt, ˈkɒn traɪt /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR contrite ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

caused by or showing sincere remorse.

filled with a sense of guilt and the desire for atonement; penitent: a contrite sinner.

Nearby words

contribute, contribution, contributor, contributory, contributory negligence, contrite, contritely, contrition, contrivance, contrive, contrived

Origin of contrite

1300–50; Middle English contrit (< Anglo-French) < Latin contrītus worn down, crushed, past participle of conterere. See con-, trite

SYNONYMS FOR contrite

2 rueful, remorseful, repentant.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR contrite ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

con·trite·ly, adverbcon·trite·ness, nouno·ver·con·trite, adjectiveo·ver·con·trite·ly, adverb

o·ver·con·trite·ness, nounun·con·trite, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for contrite

But let's put partisan spin aside and accept Christie's contrite denials of personal knowledge at face value.
Why 'Bridgegate' Will Make or Break Chris Christie|John Avlon|January 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And, while contrite, she very coolly shrugged her shoulders over the whole thing.
Is Reese Witherspoon’s Drunken Arrest the Best Thing to Happen to Her Career?|Kevin Fallon|May 3, 2013|DAILY BEAST
He is unfailingly polite and contrite, still slightly awkward with the artifice of campaigning after all these years.
South Carolina Street Fight in First District Congressional Primary|John Avlon|March 18, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Is he going to be contrite in the way that some people would like him to be contrite?
Charlie Sheen: Anger Management on FX, DirecTV, Fiat|Maria Elena Fernandez|July 23, 2012|DAILY BEAST

On Tuesday, an emotional and contrite Guillen went before the cameras and apologized for more than an hour for his remarks.
Marlins Manager’s Castro Comment Is a Foul Ball for All Hispanics|Jamie Reno|April 11, 2012|DAILY BEAST
All others must proceed cautiously in contrite memory of their sins.
The Riverman|Stewart Edward White
Nevertheless, in a contrite heart and a humble spirit let us be accepted.
A Thousand Years of Jewish History|Maurice H. (Maurice Henry) Harris
That night when the doctor called he found her humbled, contrite, concerned in earnest, and all for her husband.
A Trooper Galahad|Charles King
Affonzo's tone was contrite, and his dancing eyes were on the ground.
Our Little Brazilian Cousin|Mary F. Nixon-Roulet
In time they were succeeded by an affectation of contrite apology and self-depreciation.
Flip: A California Romance|Bret Harte

British Dictionary definitions for contrite

contrite

/ (kənˈtraɪt, ˈkɒntraɪt) /

adjective

full of guilt or regret; remorseful

arising from a sense of shame or guiltcontrite promises

theol remorseful for past sin and resolved to avoid future sin

Derived Formscontritely, adverbcontriteness, noun

Word Origin for contrite

C14: from Latin contrītus worn out, from conterere to bruise, from terere to grind

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for contrite

contrite

adj.

c.1300, from Old French contrit and directly from Latin contritus, literally "worn out, ground to pieces," past participle of conterere "to grind," from com- "together" (see com-) + terere "to rub" (see throw (v.)). Used in English in figurative sense of "crushed in spirit by a sense of sin." Related: Contritely.

contrite

adjective

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of contrite

Examples from the Web for contrite

British Dictionary definitions for contrite

contrite

adjective

Word Origin for contrite

Word Origin and History for contrite

contrite