Home/Rootonym/Expressing or feeling sorrow for wrongdoing; contrite (adjective)

Expressing or feeling sorrow for wrongdoing; contrite (adjective)

MEMaya EllisonPuzzle Editor · Verified answers

USA Today Rootonym clue · 8 letters · last seen July 19, 2026

Answer
PENITENT
PENITENT · 8 letters · puzzle shows PEN*****
The Root
PENmeans “pain, punishment”

In a sentence: Danny was truly PENITENT when his baseball broke the neighbor's windowpane.

About this clue

The Rootonym clue “Expressing or feeling sorrow for wrongdoing; contrite (adjective)” has the answer PENITENT (8 letters), built on the root PEN, which means “pain, punishment”. See the full July 19, 2026 Rootonym puzzle for the other three words, or browse all Rootonym answers.