Unattoned

The state of a wrong or offense that has not been forgiven, atoned for, or compensated for. It signifies a debt or burden remaining due to an action that caused harm, suffering, or violated a moral or legal code, where reconciliation or expiation has not occurred. It highlights the persistence of consequence from a past misdeed, requiring a future act of amends for closure. This term also encompasses a lack of reconciliation or resolution. It implies the persistence of guilt, shame, or societal judgment associated with the act.

Unattoned meaning with examples

• Years after the scandal, the politician's past misdeeds remained stubbornly unattoned, clouding his public image and hindering his ability to connect with constituents. Attempts at public service and charitable acts weren't enough. The public remembered, and demanded a more sincere response, the debt was there.
• The victims of the historical injustice felt the wounds, the generational trauma. The systemic abuses of power and the stolen land were unattoned, leading to protests and calls for redress. The descendants of the victims, they carried the burden, seeking justice.
• Despite his efforts, the murderer's guilt remained unattoned; he served his sentence, but the memory of his crime haunted his every waking moment, even in prison. No amount of confinement seemed to provide any degree of peace to the man. He remained an unwhole person.
• The ecological damage caused by the oil spill remained largely unattoned, as the ecosystem struggled to recover and the responsible company failed to fully address the lasting environmental consequences. Clean-up efforts fell far short, leaving a scarred landscape, the fish dead, and animals suffering.