How to Use contrite in a Sentence

contrite

adjective
  • Since then, Love seemed in a better mood with his tone and more contrite with his words.
    — Mark Medina, USA TODAY, 28 Apr. 2021
  • These two, just hours from the battlefield, were by turns contrite and defensive.
    — Serhii Korolchuk, Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2023
  • And Pillar, rather than appeal, owned up in a contrite statement.
    — Bill Shaikin, latimes.com, 20 May 2017
  • Yes, others have been similarly contrite and still lost their jobs.
    — Mitch Albom, Detroit Free Press, 12 July 2020
  • Alderson said the Mets felt that Reyes was contrite and deserved a second chance.
    — James Wagner, New York Times, 25 June 2016
  • Italy’s bond yields climbed sharply, forcing Lagarde into a contrite U-turn.
    — Ferdinando Giugliano, Bloomberg.com, 14 Oct. 2020
  • Neely spoke in a contrite tone when asked about the Miller situation earlier in the week.
    — Christopher L. Gasper, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Nov. 2022
  • When Hall, 51, asked about the night in question, Branch was candid and contrite.
    — Sarah Michaud, Peoplemag, 14 Sep. 2022
  • Now in his 40s, Joseph is not just contrite, but also, by all accounts, reformed.
    — Judy Berman, Time, 20 Apr. 2021
  • Furthermore, this shows Trump does not believe someone must be contrite to get a pardon.
    — James Hohmann, Washington Post, 13 Apr. 2018
  • Beilein understands the severity of his error and is contrite.
    — Chris Fedor, cleveland, 9 Jan. 2020
  • In a statement read by Bryant’s lawyer in court as a condition of dropping the charges, the athlete was contrite.
    — NBC News, 29 Jan. 2020
  • Franken stepped into her line of sight to offer a contrite, confessional gesture.
    — Susan Page, USA TODAY, 23 May 2017
  • Wilson was initially contrite when news of the school transfer became public.
    — Perry Stein, Washington Post, 5 Mar. 2018
  • The Marine unit that posted the tweet has deleted it and tweeted a number of contrite apologies.
    — Jamie McIntyre, Washington Examiner, 15 Mar. 2021
  • The defendant struck a more contrite tone in his comments during the hearing on Thursday.
    — Marshall Cohen, CNN, 28 Oct. 2021
  • The boys standing behind him watched Murray nervously, a look on their faces that was almost contrite.
    — Aaron Gwyn, Esquire, 24 Apr. 2009
  • Mark Dantonio should have been completely contrite after the game.
    — Teddy Greenstein, chicagotribune.com, 13 Oct. 2019
  • To their credit, both CEOs have been candid and contrite about some of their investing mishaps.
    — Paul R. La Monica, CNN, 19 May 2020
  • The next year, a contrite Springer made a remarkable comeback and all was forgiven as voters sent him back to council.
    — Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 31 Oct. 2021
  • The Saints have been contrite this week about their blocking failures at Carolina in Week 2.
    — Mark Heim | [email protected], al, 26 Sep. 2021
  • Jack was contrite, Jamal was wise & #Survivor gave it space to develop as a human moment.
    — Eric Todisco, PEOPLE.com, 31 Oct. 2019
  • When the clergyman reappeared about 10 seconds later, a contrite woman spoke up.
    — Debby Waldman, Wired, 17 Mar. 2021
  • But back in November 2017, Lyman came across as more contrite.
    — Leia Larsen, The Salt Lake Tribune, 18 Sep. 2020
  • Defense attorney Barry Sheppard told the judge his client was contrite about what happened.
    — Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 7 July 2022
  • Jenkins was hardly contrite and offered a hollowed apology when offered the chance to do so Thursday.
    — Chris Bumbaca, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2019
  • Manfred then met with Gurriel, who is 33, on Saturday and said the player was contrite.
    — David Waldstein, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2017
  • Did anyone in Mogincual feel contrite, or somehow wiser for the tragic events of 2009?
    — Longreads, 5 Apr. 2018
  • That's why Gausman was contrite despite a mostly fantastic effort.
    — Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025
  • McGuire indicated that Sorsby is contrite about it all and said that the quarterback could speak publicly soon.
    — Sam Khan Jr, New York Times, 10 June 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'contrite.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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