Synonyms & related words for penance

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of penance — including penitence, repentance, penitently, contrition, atonement, atone. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to penance

Explore words related to penance — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include penitential, penitent, expiation, expiator, repentantly, absolution, austerities, repenting. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for penance

Common synonyms for penance include penitence, repentance, penitently, contrition, atonement, atone, purgation, mortification — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does penance come from?

The word penance breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root pen-, from Latin poena (“penalty, punishment”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.