Someone who is penitent is very sorry for something wrong that they have done, and regrets their actions. Robert Gates sat before them, almost penitent about the past penitent criminals. + penitently peni·tent·ly He sat penitently in his chair by the window. feeling sorry because you have done something wrong, and are intending not to do it again = repentant (pénitent, from , present participle of paenitere ). someone who is doing penance
(Roman Catholic Church) a person who repents for wrongdoing (a Roman Catholic may be admitted to penance under the direction of a confessor) feeling or expressing remorse for misdeeds