What does "impenitent" mean?
One who is not penitent.
Impenitent
/ɪmˈpɛnɪt(ə)nt/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: One who is not penitent.
- Grammar: impenitent is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: unrepentant, abandoned, callous, hard.
- Useful contrasts: apologetic, contrite, penitent.
- Usage evidence: [I]f they mende and repente better, will in ſtede of purgatorye which they nowe mocke & ieſte at, wepe and repent in hell this fooliſh fruitleſſe faſhion of their impenitent repentance.
How to use "impenitent"
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- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "impenitent" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "impenitent" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "impenitent" as the right word for your sentence.
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "impenitent" is acting as adj, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "unrepentant" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 One who is not penitent.
"For as for the firſt kynde of eleccion, after whiche, Chriſte hathe choſen bys catholike churche out of the Jewes and Gentiles, to be his church here in earth: in thys kynde are there penitentes and impenitentes bothe."
Adjective
- 1 Not penitent; specifically (Christianity), not repenting of one's sins; unrepentant.
"[I]f they mende and repente better, will in ſtede of purgatorye which they nowe mocke & ieſte at, wepe and repent in hell this fooliſh fruitleſſe faſhion of their impenitent repentance."
Adjective
- 1 not penitent or remorseful wordnet
- 2 impervious to moral persuasion wordnet
Antonyms
Example
"[I]f they mende and repente better, will in ſtede of purgatorye which they nowe mocke & ieſte at, wepe and repent in hell this fooliſh fruitleſſe faſhion of their impenitent repentance."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "impenitent"?
Common synonyms include: unrepentant, abandoned, callous, hard, hardened, hardhearted.
How do you use "impenitent" in a sentence?
[I]f they mende and repente better, will in ſtede of purgatorye which they nowe mocke & ieſte at, wepe and repent in hell this fooliſh fruitleſſe faſhion of their impenitent repentance.
How do you pronounce "impenitent"?
Pronounced /ɪmˈpɛnɪt(ə)nt/.
Etymology
The adjective is derived from Late Middle English impenitent (“not penitent, unrepentant”), from Latin impaenitentem, the accusative feminine or masculine singular of impaenitēns (“unrepentant”), from im- (a variant of in- (prefix meaning ‘not’) + paenitēns (“contrite, penitent, regretting, repenting”) (the present active participle of paeniteō (“to be sorry, regret; to cause to repent; to repent”), from Proto-Indo-European *peh₁- (“to hate; to hurt”)). By surface analysis, im- + penitent. The noun is derived from the adjective.