Synonyms for repentance
Most common
All synonyms
Noun
penitence, remorse, contrition, regret, compunction, guilt, attrition, contriteness, sorrow, self-reproach, penance dated, ruth dated, rue dated
Definitions
- n. 1
The action of repenting, an instance of it, atonement.
Related words
- Word family
- repent repentant repentantly
- Phrases
- stool of repentance
Forms
- Plural
- repentances → penitences, remorses, contritions, regrets…
Choose the right word
Repentance is sorrow for sin with self-condemnation, and complete turning from the sin. There may be sorrow without repentance, as for consequences only, but not repentance without sorrow.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- remorse He has shown remorse for the unfortunate incident.
- contrition I have come to you in great contrition to atone for my sin.
- penitence They demanded public penitence from me.
- compunction Tom has no compunction about engaging in usury.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| repentance | rising | |
| remorse | rising | |
| contrition | rising | |
| penitence | rising | |
| compunction | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- rue1
- 4 letters
- ruth1
- 5 letters
- guilt1
- 6 letters
- regret2, sorrow2
- 7 letters
- remorse2, penance2
- 9 letters
- attrition3, penitence
- 10 letters
- contrition3
- 11 letters
- compunction3
- 12 letters
- contriteness
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (regret2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- repentance