How to Use contrite in a Sentence

contrite

adjective
Definition of contritenext
Synonyms for contritenext
  • And now, seeing the rise of Trump, Schwartz feels contrite.
    — Ian Parker, The New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2016
  • Since then, Love seemed in a better mood with his tone and more contrite with his words.
    — Mark Medina, USA TODAY, 28 Apr. 2021
  • In order to heal, those who committed the wrong must be contrite. ...
    — Dianne Solis, Dallas News, 24 July 2021
  • Neely spoke in a contrite tone when asked about the Miller situation earlier in the week.
    — Christopher L. Gasper, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Nov. 2022
  • Alderson said the Mets felt that Reyes was contrite and deserved a second chance.
    — James Wagner, New York Times, 25 June 2016
  • The Marine unit that posted the tweet has deleted it and tweeted a number of contrite apologies.
    — Jamie McIntyre, Washington Examiner, 15 Mar. 2021
  • Beilein understands the severity of his error and is contrite.
    — Chris Fedor, cleveland, 9 Jan. 2020
  • These two, just hours from the battlefield, were by turns contrite and defensive.
    — Serhii Korolchuk, Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2023
  • The defendant struck a more contrite tone in his comments during the hearing on Thursday.
    — Marshall Cohen, CNN, 28 Oct. 2021
  • In a statement read by Bryant’s lawyer in court as a condition of dropping the charges, the athlete was contrite.
    — NBC News, 29 Jan. 2020
  • And Pillar, rather than appeal, owned up in a contrite statement.
    — Bill Shaikin, latimes.com, 20 May 2017
  • Wilson was initially contrite when news of the school transfer became public.
    — Perry Stein, Washington Post, 5 Mar. 2018
  • Yes, others have been similarly contrite and still lost their jobs.
    — Mitch Albom, Detroit Free Press, 12 July 2020
  • Samantha was thankful, a little contrite, and very rested.
    — Liz Astrof, Marie Claire, 30 July 2019
  • Baird’s husband, Mark Baird, is as angry as she is contrite.
    — Yvonne Wingett Sanchez, Washington Post, 26 Sep. 2022
  • The next year, a contrite Springer made a remarkable comeback and all was forgiven as voters sent him back to council.
    — Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 31 Oct. 2021
  • Franken stepped into her line of sight to offer a contrite, confessional gesture.
    — Susan Page, USA TODAY, 23 May 2017
  • The boys standing behind him watched Murray nervously, a look on their faces that was almost contrite.
    — Aaron Gwyn, Esquire, 24 Apr. 2009
  • Mark Dantonio should have been completely contrite after the game.
    — Teddy Greenstein, chicagotribune.com, 13 Oct. 2019
  • But Zucker appeared to be neither surprised nor contrite.
    — Tatiana Siegel, Rolling Stone, 11 Mar. 2022
  • Furthermore, this shows Trump does not believe someone must be contrite to get a pardon.
    — James Hohmann, Washington Post, 13 Apr. 2018
  • One man started filming the contrite drone operator with his smartphone.
    — Amanda Ripley, The Atlantic, 3 Nov. 2015
  • Since then, her tweets have fluctuated between the bellicose and contrite.
    — Greg Braxton, latimes.com, 14 June 2018
  • To their credit, both CEOs have been candid and contrite about some of their investing mishaps.
    — Paul R. La Monica, CNN, 19 May 2020
  • The newly contrite company has tightened up its rules on data collection and sharing.
    — Benny Evangelista, San Francisco Chronicle, 30 Apr. 2018
  • Allbaugh apologized, though it was clear he was hardly contrite.
    — Christopher Cooper &robert Block, Disaster, 2006
  • Jenkins was hardly contrite and offered a hollowed apology when offered the chance to do so Thursday.
    — Chris Bumbaca, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2019
  • This is an idea spoon-fed to the viewer in the final episodes by a contrite Dr. Melfi, in a show that spoon-feeds almost nothing to the viewer.
    — New York Times, 29 Sep. 2021
  • Italy’s bond yields climbed sharply, forcing Lagarde into a contrite U-turn.
    — Ferdinando Giugliano, Bloomberg.com, 14 Oct. 2020
  • Arpaio, who has been anything but contrite, did not submit a formal application.
    — Adam Liptak, Alaska Dispatch News, 26 Aug. 2017

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'contrite.' 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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