contrite

adjective

con·trite kən-ˈtrīt How to pronounce contrite (audio)

also

ˈkän-ˌtrīt How to pronounce contrite (audio)

: feeling or showing sorrow and remorse for improper or objectionable behavior, actions, etc.

a contrite criminal

a contrite apology

I have a sense now of his feeling somewhat contrite, or perhaps only abashed.

Renata Adler

Ford executives had hoped their efficient, well-publicized recall efforts and contrite approach to customers would enable them to put the tire crisis behind them.

Cathy Booth Thomas

contritely adverb

"I'm sorry," he said contritely.

contriteness noun

Did you know?

A person who is contrite may have rubbed someone the wrong way and caused bruised feelings—and there is a hint about the origins of the word in that thought. Contrite came to English by way of Anglo-French from the Latin verb conterere, meaning "to grind" or "to bruise." Conterere, in turn, was formed by combining the prefix com-, meaning "with" or "together," and terere, "to rub." If you've guessed that trite is a cousin of contrite (through terere), you are correct. Other terere descendants in English include detriment and very possibly the familiar verb try.

Example Sentences

Allbaugh apologized, though it was clear he was hardly contrite.

Christopher Cooper &Robert Block, Disaster, 2006 … Teddy was immediately contrite. "That was stupid of me. Forgive me."

Jack Higgins, The President's Daughter, 1998 At the airport, the meter registers nine pounds, and of course he had said six or seven. I have a sense now of his feeling somewhat contrite, or perhaps only abashed.

Renata Adler, Pitch Dark, 1983 … for days afterward, afraid of himself and worried about his sanity, he would be contrite and terribly ashamed.

John Nichols, The Milagro Beanfield War, 1974 being contrite is not enough to spare you an arrest if you're caught shoplifting

Recent Examples on the Web To be fair, Nate never seems contrite about endangering Gigi.

Lisa Kennedy, Variety, 1 Sep. 2022 Defense attorney Barry Sheppard told the judge his client was contrite about what happened.

Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 7 July 2022 While both men defended the company and cited the unprecedented challenge their task presented, Mr. El-Hibri was contrite about its failures.

New York Times, 30 Apr. 2022 In interviews with The Oregonian/OregonLive in recent weeks, Paulson and Golub were at turns surprised, contrite, defiant and confused by the allegations from the 10 former employees who spoke to Clarke for the investigation.

oregonlive, 15 Aug. 2022 At times contrite and at times defensive, Davies and Zhu, speaking from an undisclosed location, described a systemic failure of risk management in which easy-flowing credit worsened the impact of wrong-way bets.

Muyao Shen, Fortune, 22 July 2022 When that effort failed, Amagasaki officials held their contrite briefing.

New York Times, 28 June 2022 This is more contrite than last week, when the IRS said a lack of funds and rampant identity theft left it no choice but to embrace biometrics.

The Editorial Board, WSJ, 8 Feb. 2022 Yarrow told me that the past outcries have prompted him to become more introspective, contrite, and make a concerted effort to model better behavior.

Mike Koshmrl, Outside Online, 14 Apr. 2021 See More

单词	contrite
释义	contrite adjective con·trite kən-ˈtrīt also ˈkän-ˌtrīt : feeling or showing sorrow and remorse for improper or objectionable behavior, actions, etc. a contrite criminal a contrite apology I have a sense now of his feeling somewhat contrite, or perhaps only abashed. Renata Adler Ford executives had hoped their efficient, well-publicized recall efforts and contrite approach to customers would enable them to put the tire crisis behind them. Cathy Booth Thomas contritely adverb "I'm sorry," he said contritely. contriteness noun Did you know? A person who is contrite may have rubbed someone the wrong way and caused bruised feelings—and there is a hint about the origins of the word in that thought. Contrite came to English by way of Anglo-French from the Latin verb conterere, meaning "to grind" or "to bruise." Conterere, in turn, was formed by combining the prefix com-, meaning "with" or "together," and terere, "to rub." If you've guessed that trite is a cousin of contrite (through terere), you are correct. Other terere descendants in English include detriment and very possibly the familiar verb try. Synonyms apologetic compunctious penitent regretful remorseful repentant rueful sorry See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Allbaugh apologized, though it was clear he was hardly contrite. Christopher Cooper &Robert Block, Disaster, 2006 … Teddy was immediately contrite. "That was stupid of me. Forgive me." Jack Higgins, The President's Daughter, 1998 At the airport, the meter registers nine pounds, and of course he had said six or seven. I have a sense now of his feeling somewhat contrite, or perhaps only abashed. Renata Adler, Pitch Dark, 1983 … for days afterward, afraid of himself and worried about his sanity, he would be contrite and terribly ashamed. John Nichols, The Milagro Beanfield War, 1974 being contrite is not enough to spare you an arrest if you're caught shoplifting Recent Examples on the Web To be fair, Nate never seems contrite about endangering Gigi. Lisa Kennedy, Variety, 1 Sep. 2022 Defense attorney Barry Sheppard told the judge his client was contrite about what happened. Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 7 July 2022 While both men defended the company and cited the unprecedented challenge their task presented, Mr. El-Hibri was contrite about its failures. New York Times, 30 Apr. 2022 In interviews with The Oregonian/OregonLive in recent weeks, Paulson and Golub were at turns surprised, contrite, defiant and confused by the allegations from the 10 former employees who spoke to Clarke for the investigation. oregonlive, 15 Aug. 2022 At times contrite and at times defensive, Davies and Zhu, speaking from an undisclosed location, described a systemic failure of risk management in which easy-flowing credit worsened the impact of wrong-way bets. Muyao Shen, Fortune, 22 July 2022 When that effort failed, Amagasaki officials held their contrite briefing. New York Times, 28 June 2022 This is more contrite than last week, when the IRS said a lack of funds and rampant identity theft left it no choice but to embrace biometrics. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 8 Feb. 2022 Yarrow told me that the past outcries have prompted him to become more introspective, contrite, and make a concerted effort to model better behavior. Mike Koshmrl, Outside Online, 14 Apr. 2021 See More Word History Etymology Middle English contrit, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin contritus, from Latin, past participle of conterere to grind, bruise, from com- + terere to rub — more at throw entry 1 First Known Use 14th century, in the meaning defined above Kids Definition contrite adjective con·trite ˈkän-ˌtrīt kən-ˈtrīt : feeling or showing sorrow for having done something bad or wrong : repentant The prince lowered his head so as to appear humbled and contrite. Sid Fleishman, The Whipping Boy contrite adjective as in remorseful feeling sorrow for a wrong that one has done being contrite is not enough to spare you a detention if you're caught skipping class Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance remorseful ashamed repentant apologetic penitent sorry regretful rueful sheepish shamefaced weeping grieving sorrowful compunctious plaintive mournful wailing dolorous lugubrious woeful Antonyms & Near Antonyms unrepentant impenitent unapologetic remorseless ruthless cruel pitiless merciless unashamed compassionless unmerciful shameless See More
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contrite

adjective

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Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

adjective

adjective