How to Use contrition in a Sentence

contrition

noun
  • Were her tears a true sign of contrition?
  • At no point has the jailbird shown contrition for her crimes.
    — Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 1 Dec. 2025
  • Don’t leave him out of the contrition portion of this episode.
    — Washington Post, 9 Feb. 2022
  • Probably not so smart when the fan base wants to see contrition.
    — Eric Bolin, ajc, 18 Nov. 2017
  • Hence the demand for still more heartfelt acts of contrition, and on and on.
    — Ian Buruma, Harper's Magazine, 2 June 2023
  • The abject contrition left Ryan with nowhere to go.
    — Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026
  • At each step, Japan's leaders have faced a choice over whether or not to show contrition.
    — Yuri Kageyama, Star Tribune, 9 Aug. 2020
  • Yes, and the problem is that even after the mistake is made, there is no contrition.
    — Fox News, 3 June 2018
  • Not all members of the Finnish press were convinced of her contrition.
    — Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Wallen showed contrition, and less than two months later the show re-invited him.
    — Ben Flanagan | [email protected], al, 5 Dec. 2020
  • Here was a chance for Redzepi to redeem himself with true contrition.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
  • Their contrition, however, was far from the end of the matter.
    — Patrick Frater, Variety, 9 Sep. 2024
  • Each has expressed contrition for their actions.
    — Mark Z. Barabak, Mercury News, 3 Dec. 2025
  • Murdoch’s note arrived in the midst of a global surge in public contrition.
    — Beth Lew-Williams, New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Some in the sport will not buy Miller’s explanations or signs of contrition.
    — Bryce Millercolumnist, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 July 2022
  • Alomar did not speak to Clevinger and Plesac, but was told both showed contrition.
    — Tom Withers, Star Tribune, 25 Aug. 2020
  • But the proper approach, obvious to many, was to show some contrition.
    — Matt Ford, The New Republic, 10 July 2019
  • The postgame news conference acts a form of contrition for Campbell.
    — Carlos Monarrez, USA TODAY, 10 Oct. 2022
  • He should be offered forgiveness and be able to move on with his life and career, after his contrition.
    — William Lee, chicagotribune.com, 10 Dec. 2021
  • And Jimmy’s pitch isn’t based on the usual theater of contrition.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 6 Oct. 2021
  • Frank Russo showed contrition in the end and ended up with a shorter sentence.
    — Laura Johnston, cleveland, 23 June 2022
  • What Beard probably needs to do next is take steps to show contrition, something that has been lacking so far.
    — Dallas News, 15 Feb. 2023
  • But can there be too much contrition from those who were complicit with the Nazis, and is there such a thing as too much atonement?
    — Martin Filler, The New York Review of Books, 1 July 2021
  • To them, Burrows’ defense of the meeting on the radio did not show contrition.
    — James Barragán, Dallas News, 11 Dec. 2020
  • One man who isn't buying Lane's act of contrition is Tim Brando.
    — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 May 2026
  • Its theme was the need for humility and contrition on the part of the country's pollsters and pundits.
    — Damon Linker, TheWeek, 4 Nov. 2020
  • Clemency is reserved for people who show contrition, growth, reform.
    — Megan Schrader, Denver Post, 20 Jan. 2026
  • Were these tears of contrition or a performance for an audience of 12?
    — New York Times, 8 Feb. 2022
  • There was an underlying tone of contrition.
    — Armando Salguero, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2026
  • Royal experts said there was a welcome, if overdue, show of contrition in the statement issued by lawyers for the prince.
    — Mark Landler, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Feb. 2022

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

Last Updated: