Difference between Penitent and Contrite

What is the difference between Penitent and Contrite?

Penitent as an adjective is feeling pain or sorrow on account of sins or offenses; repentant; contrite; sincerely affected by a sense of guilt, and resolved on amendment of life. while Contrite as an adjective is sincerely penitent or feeling regret or sorrow, especially for one's own actions; apologetic.

Penitent

Part of speech: adjective

Definition: Feeling pain or sorrow on account of sins or offenses; repentant; contrite; sincerely affected by a sense of guilt, and resolved on amendment of life. Doing penance.

Part of speech: noun

Definition: One who repents of sin; one sorrowful on account of his transgressions. One under church censure, but admitted to penance; one undergoing penance. One under the direction of a confessor.

Contrite

Part of speech: adjective

Definition: Sincerely penitent or feeling regret or sorrow, especially for one's own actions; apologetic.

We hope you now know whether to use Penitent or Contrite in your sentence.

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