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.
Starting in the fourth century, pilgrimages were served up by the church as a way for Christians to pay penance for their sins.
From Los Angeles Times • May 25, 2026
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
As if doing penance for the past, all four of the film’s stars are associated with superhero franchises.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 12, 2026
A cold-weather salad wants heat at its core, something warm enough to soften the greens and make the whole bowl feel like actual food rather than penance.
From Salon • Dec. 16, 2025
He needed to be purified, she told him, and only a terrible penance could do that.
From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton
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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