Adjective: penitent pe-ni-tunt
- Feeling or expressing remorse for misdeeds
"If the offender is truly penitent, should we still punish her?";
- repentant
- (Christianity) a person who confesses sins to a priest
"The priest listened attentively as the penitent confessed in the confessional";
- confessant
- A person who repents their sins or wrongdoings and seeks forgiveness
"The penitent knelt in prayer, seeking absolution for his misdeeds"
Derived forms: penitents
See also: ashamed, bad, contrite, penitential, penitentiary, regretful, remorseful, rueful, ruthful, sorry
Type of: religious person
Antonym: impenitent
Encyclopedia: Penitent