penitence

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

What I’ve learned from them during this shared season of penitence has strengthened my conviction that non-Muslims need to learn about Islam and get beyond the stereotypes and misconceptions of both the left and right.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

"This Christmas, God's Church itself needs to come again to the manger and strip off her finery and kneel in penitence and adoration. And be changed," he said.

From BBC • Dec. 25, 2024

It was initially conceived as a time of fasting and penitence, not unlike Lent, during which observant Christians prepared themselves to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 30, 2024

For Mr. Diamond, a practicing Catholic, another deadline was also looming: This year, Valentine’s Day happens to fall on Ash Wednesday, customarily devoted to penitence and fasting.

From New York Times • Feb. 14, 2024

But he was always swearing that he would do better; it was, perhaps, the brutality of his penitence that had kept them together for so long.

From "Go Tell It on the Mountain" by James Baldwin