Contrition

Contrition is a profound feeling of remorse or guilt for a wrongdoing or sin. It involves a sincere acknowledgment of one’s faults and a desire to make amends. Often associated with a spiritual or moral context, contrition reflects an emotional state where an individual realizes the impact of their actions, leading to a commitment to change behavior and seek forgiveness.

Contrition meaning with examples

• After the incident in which he accidentally hurt his friend, Sam felt overwhelming contrition. He couldn't sleep that night, kept replaying the events in his mind, and resolved to apologize sincerely the next day, hoping to mend their friendship and alleviate his guilt.
• The priest emphasized the importance of contrition in his sermon, explaining that true repentance goes beyond mere regret. It is about feeling deep sorrow for one's sins and actively seeking forgiveness through prayer and hopeful changes in life.
• During the therapy session, Jane expressed her contrition over her past mistakes, which had negatively impacted her family. She spoke earnestly about her desire to repair those relationships and take steps towards becoming a better person moving forward.
• When John learned how his careless words had hurt his coworker's feelings, he was filled with contrition. He immediately sought for a moment alone to express his regret and assure her that it was unintentional, hoping to rebuild the trust they had lost.
• After reviewing his performance in the charity event, Mike felt a wave of contrition for not preparing adequately. His conscience nagged at him to reach out to the organizers, apologize for his lack of effort, and offer to help in future endeavors.