penitence[noun]Synonyms: repentance, compunction, contrition, regret, remorse, shame, sorrow
Contrasted words: adamancy, inexorableness, obduracy, obdurateness, stubbornness
Related Words: qualm,
scruple,
self-accusation,
self-castigation,
self-punishment,
self-reproach,
self-reproof,
anguish,
distress,
grief,
regret,
sadness,
sorrow,
debasement,
degradation,
humbling,
humiliation
English Thesaurus: guilt, shame, regret, remorse, contrition, ... [TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲
guilt the feeling you have when you have done something you know is wrong:
Divorce often leaves people with feelings of guilt.shame the feeling of being guilty or embarrassed that you have after doing something that is wrong, when you feel you have lost people’s respect:
I was too scared to help him, and I was filled with shame.regret a feeling of sadness about something, especially because you wish it had not happened:
Kate watched her go with a pang of regret.remorse a strong feeling of being sorry for doing something very bad:
a murderer who showed no remorsecontrition formal a feeling of being guilty and sorry for something wrong that you have done:
The company CEO expressed contrition for the errors that led to the crash. He sounded full of contrition. They wanted to perform some kind of act of contrition (=do something that shows you feel sorry for something ).penitence formal a feeling of being sorry for something that you have done wrong, when you do not intend to do it again:
He expressed genuine penitence at the harm he had done her. a period of reflection and penitenceconscience the part of your mind that tells you whether what you are doing is morally right or wrong:
My conscience has been troubling me ever since. [TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲