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Also found in: English - Vietnamese

contrite

/'kɔntrait/
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Definition:

"Contrite" is an adjective that describes someone who feels very sorry or guilty about something they have done wrong. When a person is contrite, they recognize their mistakes and feel a sense of sadness or regret for them.

Usage:

You can use "contrite" to describe a person's feelings or attitude after they have made a mistake or hurt someone. It often implies that the person wants to apologize or make amends.

Example:
  • After breaking his friend's toy, Jason felt contrite and quickly apologized, promising to replace it.
Advanced Usage:

In more formal or literary contexts, you might see "contrite" used to describe a deeper sense of remorse or a spiritual acknowledgment of wrongdoing. For example: - The contrite sinner knelt in prayer, seeking forgiveness for his actions.

Word Variants:
  • Contrition (noun): This is the feeling of being contrite. Example: She felt deep contrition for her harsh words.
  • Contritely (adverb): This describes doing something in a contrite manner. Example: He apologized contritely, aware of the hurt he had caused.
Different Meaning:

While "contrite" mainly focuses on feelings of guilt or sorrow, it does not refer to the actions taken afterward. A person can feel contrite but still not take action to fix their mistake.

Synonyms:

Some synonyms for "contrite" include: - Remorseful - Regretful - Sorry - Apologetic - Penitent

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

There aren't specific idioms or phrasal verbs that directly incorporate "contrite," but you might hear phrases like: - "Eat humble pie": This means to admit you were wrong and apologize, often used when someone is contrite. - "Make amends": This means to correct a mistake or apologize, which can relate to feeling contrite.

Summary:

In summary, "contrite" describes a feeling of deep regret and sorrow for something wrong one has done. It’s used to express a genuine desire to seek forgiveness and show remorse.

Adjective
  1. feeling or expressing pain or sorrow for sins or offenses

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