Penance
/ˈpenəns/noun
The act of self-punishment or religious devotion to show sorrow for wrongdoings or sin.
After stealing from the store, he did penance by giving away all of his possessions.
Often appears as...
- do penance
- lifetime of penance
Usage tips
Religious
noun
A specific act decreed by a priest in the Sacrament of Reconciliation in the Catholic Church to achieve forgiveness for sin.
The priest assigned him a penance of ten Hail Marys.
Often appears as...
- assigned penance
- sacramental penance
Usage tips
Religious, Catholic
noun
Feelings of regret and self-reproof for shortcomings or wrongdoing.
She felt penance for her harsh words to him.
Often appears as...
- feel penance
- sense of penance
noun
The act of self-punishment or religious devotion to show sorrow for wrongdoings or sin.
After stealing from the store, he did penance by giving away all of his possessions.
Often appears as...
- do penance
- lifetime of penance
Usage tips
Religious
noun
A specific act decreed by a priest in the Sacrament of Reconciliation in the Catholic Church to achieve forgiveness for sin.
The priest assigned him a penance of ten Hail Marys.
Often appears as...
- assigned penance
- sacramental penance
Usage tips
Religious, Catholic
noun
Feelings of regret and self-reproof for shortcomings or wrongdoing.
She felt penance for her harsh words to him.
Often appears as...
- feel penance
- sense of penance
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Self-discipline
Penance often involves personal sacrifice or discipline to show repentance.
He woke up at dawn as penance for his laziness.
Pro Tip 2/3Beyond Apologies
Penance is more serious than a simple apology; it includes action to make amends.
She volunteered at the shelter in penance for her past selfishness.
Pro Tip 3/3Cultural Sensitivity
Be aware that penance has religious roots, so use with sensitivity in diverse settings.
His penance during the holy month was meaningful to the entire community.
Compare with
amendatoryatonecompunctioncontriteexpiatoryreconciliationredemptionrepentance
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Video examples
The way we think about...
It became this economic sanctuary, where they could do penance for their profit-making tendencies -- at five cents on the dollar. So of course, how could you make money in charity if charity was your penance for making money? Financial incentive was exiled from the realm of helping others,
Video examples
Adam Nicolson: The King...
of Canterbury ever to have murdered a gamekeeper with a crossbow it was on a Thursday and as a penance every Thursday for the rest of his life he he restricted himself to
Video examples
Gun violence as told by...
took lives with guns was now reporting on gun violence perhaps this was my penance I could atone for the lives my father took
Video examples
The way we think about...
It became this economic sanctuary, where they could do penance for their profit-making tendencies -- at five cents on the dollar. So of course, how could you make money in charity if charity was your penance for making money? Financial incentive was exiled from the realm of helping others,
Video examples
Adam Nicolson: The King...
of Canterbury ever to have murdered a gamekeeper with a crossbow it was on a Thursday and as a penance every Thursday for the rest of his life he he restricted himself to
Video examples
Gun violence as told by...
took lives with guns was now reporting on gun violence perhaps this was my penance I could atone for the lives my father took
Example 1 of 3
Quote examples
Regina Brett
American Journalist
I grew up Catholic. We went to confession on Saturday, stood in the shortest line, since it led to the priest who gave the easiest penance - usually a few Our Fathers and Hail Marys. We confessed in private, prayed our penance and our souls were clean.
Quote examples
Saint Ignatius
Spanish Saint
The safest and most suitable form of penance seems to be that which causes pain in the flesh but does not penetrate to the bones, that is, which causes suffering but not sickness.
Quote examples
Douglas Coupland
Canadian Author
I've always felt like an alien trapped in a human form. We all do at some time or other; for me it's a permanent state, and I'm still unsure if Earth is a penance or a reward.
Quote examples
Richard Stallman
Scientist
People sometimes ask me if it is a sin in the Church of Emacs to use vi. Using a free version of vi is not a sin; it is a penance. So happy hacking.
Quote examples
Joseph J. Ellis
American Writer
And the only thing to do with a sin is to confess, do penance and then, after some kind of decent interval, ask for forgiveness.
Quote examples
Mike Rowe
American Celebrity
Dirty Jobs' is a fun, simple little show with huge themes under it. For me, it's penance, it's redemption, it's a sweaty mess.
Quote examples
Anoop Menon
Indian Actor
I just write by instinct and my screenplays are often the effort of a year-long penance on a subject.
Quote examples
H. L. Mencken
American Writer
A Sunday school is a prison in which children do penance for the evil conscience of their parents.
Quote examples
Saint Teresa of Avila
Spanish Saint
I don't know what heavy penance I would not have gladly undertaken rather than practice prayer.
Quote examples
Mahavira
Start the practice of self-control with some penance; begin with fasting.
Quote examples
Regina Brett
American Journalist
I grew up Catholic. We went to confession on Saturday, stood in the shortest line, since it led to the priest who gave the easiest penance - usually a few Our Fathers and Hail Marys. We confessed in private, prayed our penance and our souls were clean.
Quote examples
Saint Ignatius
Spanish Saint
The safest and most suitable form of penance seems to be that which causes pain in the flesh but does not penetrate to the bones, that is, which causes suffering but not sickness.
Quote examples
Douglas Coupland
Canadian Author
I've always felt like an alien trapped in a human form. We all do at some time or other; for me it's a permanent state, and I'm still unsure if Earth is a penance or a reward.
Quote examples
Richard Stallman
Scientist
People sometimes ask me if it is a sin in the Church of Emacs to use vi. Using a free version of vi is not a sin; it is a penance. So happy hacking.
Quote examples
Joseph J. Ellis
American Writer
And the only thing to do with a sin is to confess, do penance and then, after some kind of decent interval, ask for forgiveness.
Quote examples
Mike Rowe
American Celebrity
Dirty Jobs' is a fun, simple little show with huge themes under it. For me, it's penance, it's redemption, it's a sweaty mess.
Quote examples
Anoop Menon
Indian Actor
I just write by instinct and my screenplays are often the effort of a year-long penance on a subject.
Quote examples
H. L. Mencken
American Writer
A Sunday school is a prison in which children do penance for the evil conscience of their parents.
Quote examples
Saint Teresa of Avila
Spanish Saint
I don't know what heavy penance I would not have gladly undertaken rather than practice prayer.
Quote examples
Mahavira
Start the practice of self-control with some penance; begin with fasting.
Example 1 of 10
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