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penitent Synonyms
Another word for penitent
Choosing another word for penitent depends on context, so the synonyms and similar words below are separated across 2 exact definitions and ranked by match strength.
• adjective (Context 1)
Feeling or showing deep sorrow and regret for having done wrong; repentant.
Usage Example
"The student offered a repentant apology to the teacher after disrupting the lecture."
Strongest
repentant
contrite
remorseful
Strong
apologetic
regretful
sorrowful
rueful
Weak
ashamed
• noun (Context 2)
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.
Usage Example
"During the holy festival, thousands of penitents walked barefoot to the cathedral in silence."
Strongest
repentant
Weak
supplicant
Opposites of penitent
The opposite of penitent shifts depending on context. Common opposites include:
impenitent
unrepentant
remorseless
unapologetic
defiant
obdurate
• Nearby Words
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Synonyms for Penitent. In Wordmom Thesaurus. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/synonyms/penitent