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contrite.

Adjective
General
MEANING

Feeling sincere regret for having done something wrong.

Use it for

Words that belong together

  • contrite apology
  • contrite expression

On the page

His contrite apology arrived without the usual excuses.
She looked contrite until the conversation turned to restitution.

Nearby words

Related words

Word forms
Base
contrite

Usage notes

Primary category: psychological / character. Forms: Comparative more contrite; superlative most contrite where gradation is meaningful. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings.

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