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
This Week in Words: October 21- 27, 2018
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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.
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
During the lesson, Isatu sits in a rocking chair, teaching the children about the Act of Contrition, a prayer asking God for forgiveness for sins committed.
From Washington Post • Jul. 13, 2016
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
In his innocence he prayed the Act of Final Contrition for us who were the outcasts of the town.
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.
