0 feeling very sorry and guilty for something bad that you have done:
a contrite apology/expression
1 feeling regret and guilt for something bad that you have done:
She seemed genuinely contrite when she apologized.
In the more conventional metaphor, the ilex, which figures the contrite soul, sheds its leaves to prepare for new growth.
Several stories portray badly organized homes, with lectures meted out to contrite wrongdoers.
Her fellow-sinner appears not to have had the sense to appear contrite, so was still required to go.
She returned to her grandmother frightened and contrite, with a painfully swollen arm.
If they are as contrite as we have been, some success will have been achieved.
Is he contrite because, having budgeted for a £700 million deficit and got £300 million, the whole of his economic arguments do not make sense?
But there was sympathy always; and comfort for those who came with a humble and a contrite heart.
He appeared rather contrite; he was not at all happy.
