penitential
adjective
pen·i·ten·tial
ˌpe-nə-ˈten(t)-shəl 
: of or relating to penitence or penance
Examples of penitential in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Inclement weather, a lack of footwear, and food and sleep deprivation all contribute to pilgrims’ immersion in the penitential suffering of purgatory.
—
Lanta Davis and Vince Reighard, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Mar. 2024
During the 8th to 10th centuries, this practice fell by the wayside and the penitential season of Lent started being marked with ashes placed on the heads of the entire congregation.
—Chris Sims, The Courier-Journal, 14 Feb. 2024
The practices were somewhat penitential, but not as intense as those of Lent, and the spirit was much more preparation than penance.
—WSJ, 4 Jan. 2024
Sanctuary had for centuries grown detached from penitential discipline and become incorporated within royal criminal law, while the church’s emphasis shifted from the sacrality of space to jurisdictional immunity, which in turn became more closely linked to royal grants.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, The New York Review of Books, 3 Nov. 2020
The church released a statement on its website Thursday saying that, due to the desecration of the altar, Abbot Elijah Owens and the monastic community will undertake the penitential rite, reparation for the desecration and offer a Mass of Reparation.
—Monica Brich, Arkansas Online, 7 Jan. 2023
Throughout Lent—the penitential season prior to Easter, which for the Orthodox is this Sunday—Ukrainian Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, and Ukrainian Greek Catholic bishops, metropolitans, clergy, and scholars have been consumed with the issues of the war.
—Paul Elie, The New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2022
Established and state-regulated by the late fourth century, Christian sanctuary was based in episcopal intercession and penitential discipline; it was intended to spare the body the worst consequences of crime and thereby to save the soul from the everlasting implications of sin.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, The New York Review of Books, 3 Nov. 2020
Purchase of pardons had traditionally allowed people to bypass the penitential rituals the Church required for remission of sins.
—Maureen Quilligan, WSJ, 1 Feb. 2022
Lanta Davis and Vince Reighard, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Mar. 2024
During the 8th to 10th centuries, this practice fell by the wayside and the penitential season of Lent started being marked with ashes placed on the heads of the entire congregation.
—Chris Sims, The Courier-Journal, 14 Feb. 2024
The practices were somewhat penitential, but not as intense as those of Lent, and the spirit was much more preparation than penance.
—WSJ, 4 Jan. 2024
Sanctuary had for centuries grown detached from penitential discipline and become incorporated within royal criminal law, while the church’s emphasis shifted from the sacrality of space to jurisdictional immunity, which in turn became more closely linked to royal grants.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, The New York Review of Books, 3 Nov. 2020
The church released a statement on its website Thursday saying that, due to the desecration of the altar, Abbot Elijah Owens and the monastic community will undertake the penitential rite, reparation for the desecration and offer a Mass of Reparation.
—Monica Brich, Arkansas Online, 7 Jan. 2023
Throughout Lent—the penitential season prior to Easter, which for the Orthodox is this Sunday—Ukrainian Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, and Ukrainian Greek Catholic bishops, metropolitans, clergy, and scholars have been consumed with the issues of the war.
—Paul Elie, The New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2022
Established and state-regulated by the late fourth century, Christian sanctuary was based in episcopal intercession and penitential discipline; it was intended to spare the body the worst consequences of crime and thereby to save the soul from the everlasting implications of sin.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, The New York Review of Books, 3 Nov. 2020
Purchase of pardons had traditionally allowed people to bypass the penitential rituals the Church required for remission of sins.
—Maureen Quilligan, WSJ, 1 Feb. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'penitential.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Penitential.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/penitential. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.
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