penitent

/ˈpɛnɪtɪnt/

/ˈpɛnɪtɪnt/

Other forms: penitents

Penitent means deeply sorry, ashamed, and full of remorse. If you feel sorry––or just want to appear to––you should adopt a penitent manner.

Penitent comes from the Latin word paenitere, which means to repent. It can be either noun or adjective. Though it's not restricted to them, penitent often pops up in religious contexts, particularly as a noun, as in, "The penitent threw herself at the bishop's feet and begged forgiveness for her sins."

Definitions of penitent

1. adjective

   feeling or expressing remorse for misdeeds
   synonyms: repentant

   ashamed

   feeling shame or guilt or embarrassment or remorse

   bad, regretful, sorry

   feeling or expressing regret or sorrow or a sense of loss over something done or undone

   contrite, remorseful, rueful, ruthful

   feeling or expressing pain or sorrow

   penitential, penitentiary

   showing or constituting penance

   antonyms:

   impenitent

   not penitent or remorseful

   unashamed

   used of persons or their behavior; feeling no shame

   unregenerate, unregenerated

   not reformed morally or spiritually
2. noun

   (Roman Catholic Church) a person who repents for wrongdoing (a Roman Catholic may be admitted to penance under the direction of a confessor)
   types:

   flagellant

   a person who whips himself as a religious penance

   type of:

   religious person

   a person who manifests devotion to a deity