contrite
Americanadjective
-
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
-
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Kite Runner
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
100 SAT words Beginning with "C"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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
The report drawn up for the meeting says the church should "adopt a posture of a broken and contrite heart".
From BBC ● Dec. 14, 2025
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
She looked contrite, but Penelope noticed that she had tossed her new book in a corner and had not bothered to pick it up.
From "The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: Book I: The Mysterious Howling" by Maryrose Wood
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.
