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YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME

contrite

Adjective

IPA /kənˈtraɪt/

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UNDERSTAND THE WORD

Meaning in plain English

Feeling sincerely sorry and guilty about something wrong you have done, and showing that regret in your manner.

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Pronunciation

contrite/kənˈtraɪt/

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  1. You break a friend's favourite mug

  2. You feel sincerely sorry

  3. You apologise and show real regret

A contrite person is genuinely sorry for what they have done.

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Examples in context

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  1. He sounded contrite when he apologised for breaking my favourite mug.
  2. The student was contrite about submitting someone else's work.

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He sounded ________ when he apologised for breaking my favourite mug.
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contrite — Feeling sincerely sorry and guilty about something wrong you have done, and showing that regret in your manner.

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Feeling sincerely sorry and guilty about something wrong you have done, and showing that regret in your manner.

Compare: He sounded contrite when he apologised for breaking my favourite mug.

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Word origin

From Latin contritus, related to a verb meaning grind down or wear away, through French.

Did you know?

Contrite can describe an expression or manner as well as a person's feelings.

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contrite

/kənˈtraɪt/ (Adjective)

“This is a formal word for genuine remorse. Use contrite about something you have done.”

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