contrite
Meaning: Feeling deep remorse and guilt for a wrongdoing; sincerely penitent and seeking forgiveness.
Contrite conveys a stronger, more heartfelt sense of regret than simply 'sorry.' It suggests genuine internal anguish rather than a perfunctory apology. In religious contexts, particularly Catholic theology, 'contrition' is a formal stage of repentance. In journalism and politics, the word often appears in descriptions of public apologies, sometimes with scepticism about their sincerity.
Examples
- The footballer appeared genuinely contrite as he apologised to the fans after his arrest. 那位足球运动员在被捕后向球迷道歉时显得真心悔过。El futbolista parecía genuinamente contrito al disculparse ante los aficionados tras su detención.そのサッカー選手は逮捕後にファンに謝罪する際、本当に悔いているように見えた。그 축구 선수는 체포 후 팬들에게 사과하면서 진심으로 뉘우치는 모습을 보였다.
- She wrote a contrite letter to her former colleague, acknowledging the harm she had caused. 她给前同事写了一封悔过信,承认了自己造成的伤害。Escribió una carta contrita a su antiguo colega, reconociendo el daño que había causado.彼女は元同僚に悔恨の手紙を書き、自分が与えた害を認めた。그녀는 전 동료에게 자신이 끼친 피해를 인정하며 참회의 편지를 썼다.
- Despite his contrite public statement, many doubted whether he truly understood the gravity of his actions. 尽管他发表了悔过的公开声明,但许多人怀疑他是否真正理解自己行为的严重性。A pesar de su contrita declaración pública, muchos dudaban de que comprendiese realmente la gravedad de sus actos.彼の痛悔に満ちた公式声明にもかかわらず、多くの人は彼が自分の行為の重大さを本当に理解しているか疑った。그의 통렬한 공식 성명에도 불구하고, 많은 사람들은 그가 자신의 행동의 중대성을 진정으로 이해하고 있는지 의심했다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: journalism, literary, religious
Tone: solemn
Origin & History
From Latin contritus (ground to pieces, worn out), the past participle of conterere (to grind). The metaphorical sense of a spirit 'crushed' by guilt dates to early Christian Latin.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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