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Definition of penitent

penitent

/ˈpɛnɪtənt/
pen · i · tent
Adverb:penitently
•
Plural:penitents
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penitent Lexical Profile

penitent Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Feeling or showing deep sorrow and regret for having done wrong; repentant.

Example

"The student offered a penitent apology to the teacher after disrupting the lecture."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• noun

1

A person who repents of their sins or wrongdoings and seeks forgiveness, especially one who confesses and performs penance under the direction of a religious confessor.

Example

"During the holy festival, thousands of penitents walked barefoot to the cathedral in silence."

Synonyms
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• Rhymes for penitent

• Nearby Words

peninsular
penis
penitence
penitent
penitentiary
penitently
penknife

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in Middle English from Old French 'penitent', from Latin 'paenitentem', the present participle of 'paenitere' ('to cause to repent, to be sorry'), related to 'poena' ('penalty, punishment').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Penitent. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/penitent
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