penance
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.
Islamic fasting is oriented toward submission to divine will, while Christian penance is animated by gratitude for the incarnate God who suffered, died and rose again for the salvation of humanity.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026
His penance is to “pass, like night, from land to land,” repeating his story: “And till my ghastly tale is told, / This heart within me burns.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 16, 2026
Williams’ Anna absorbs his fury as though it were the penance she herself would mete out for her sins.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 15, 2025
They straddle the line between indulgence and wellness, pleasure and penance.
From Salon • May 19, 2025
It was her penance for having taken those lilacs in from the mailbox.
From "Typical American" by Gish Jen
Vocabulary lists containing penance
Fahrenheit 451
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The Poet X
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The Joy Luck Club
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