contrite
Americanadjective
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caused by or showing sincere remorse.
-
filled with a sense of guilt and the desire for atonement; penitent.
a contrite sinner.
- Synonyms:
- repentant, remorseful, rueful
adjective
-
full of guilt or regret; remorseful
-
arising from a sense of shame or guilt
contrite promises
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theol remorseful for past sin and resolved to avoid future sin
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of contrite
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English contrit, from Anglo-French, from Latin contrītus “worn down, crushed,” past participle of conterere “to wear down, crush, crumble”; equivalent to con- + trite
Explanation
We are sorry to inform you that the adjective contrite means regretful, remorseful, or even guilty. Someone who feels remorse or guilt is contrite and in addition to feeling sorry, part of the definition includes wanting to atone for having done something wrong. The word comes from the Latin roots com- meaning "together" and terere which means "to rub." It's also related to the Latin word conterere and is defined as "to bruise." In the field of theology being contrite is "being remorseful for past sin and resolved to avoid future sin."
Vocabulary lists containing contrite
300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
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The Kite Runner
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100 SAT words Beginning with "C"
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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.
By this time the junior Dickenses are contrite, keen to express their remorse for “the way that all of us, except Baby, had treated him.”
From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026
But he had a starring role in the opening ceremony of the competition on Wednesday night, standing contrite before the assembled grinning beauty queens where he offered an apology.
From Barron's • Nov. 6, 2025
When I spoke to him on the phone on Tuesday morning, Buscaglia was contrite about his mistakes, but not his methods.
From Slate • May 21, 2025
Her recent interview with CNN en Español was by turns contrite, combative and self-pitying.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 4, 2025
He lay on the cold floor sobbing; but really he was standing up strongly with contrite heart, holding his life in his hands, staring at it with a wondering question.
From "Native Son" by Richard Wright
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.
