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penance

[pen-uhns] / ˈpɛn əns /


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.

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The Vatican said on Thursday: "The sacred ministers of the Society of St Pius X administer the sacraments illicitly, while the sacrament of penance they administer and the marriages they witness are invalid."

From BBC Jul. 2, 2026

“I write to make amends,” she reflects, describing a lifetime of studying Cuba as a kind of penance for what she calls being “the chosen one” that spring day in 1963.

From Los Angeles Times May 19, 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

A breakfast that feels more like penance than possibility.

From Salon Mar. 17, 2026

As a kind of penance, he did not wash his face.

From "Cannery Row" by John Steinbeck




Vocabulary lists containing penance


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