Definition of Penance

self-inflicted punishment for a misdeed

Examples of Penance in a sentence

The priest told me to say twenty Hail Marys as a penance for my sins.  🔊

Because April spent most of her teenage years mistreating her mother, she felt it was her penance to provide care for her when she became elderly.  🔊

The man gave away all of his money to charity as penance for his greed.  🔊

If you are a Christian, you believe Jesus paid the ultimate penance for everyone by dying on the cross.  🔊

The Mother Superior was a cruel woman who deliberately came up with harsh acts of penance for the few nuns who misbehaved.  🔊

Other words in the Negative Connotation category:

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