as in forgiveness
release from the guilt or penalty of an offense
the president of France traditionally grants amnesty to specially selected prisoners on Bastille Day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of amnesty
Rather than dealing with these issues, several state governments have chosen appeasement: buying off bandit leaders with stipends, positions, and amnesties.
—
Obi Anyadike, semafor.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Petro entered politics in the nineties, after Colombia’s government agreed to an amnesty, and served as a congressman and as the mayor of Bogotá.
—Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 15 Jan. 2026
At the same time, Washington hopes to push a process of national reconciliation, including amnesties for opposition figures, the release of remaining political prisoners and the return of Venezuelans in exile — issues of particular importance to South Florida’s large Venezuelan diaspora.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 15 Jan. 2026
As a result, rights activists are urging Venezuelan lawmakers to pass an amnesty law.
—John Otis, NPR, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for amnesty
Obi Anyadike, semafor.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Petro entered politics in the nineties, after Colombia’s government agreed to an amnesty, and served as a congressman and as the mayor of Bogotá.
—Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 15 Jan. 2026
At the same time, Washington hopes to push a process of national reconciliation, including amnesties for opposition figures, the release of remaining political prisoners and the return of Venezuelans in exile — issues of particular importance to South Florida’s large Venezuelan diaspora.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 15 Jan. 2026
As a result, rights activists are urging Venezuelan lawmakers to pass an amnesty law.
—John Otis, NPR, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for amnesty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for amnesty
Noun
-
Some creditors may even offer partial balance forgiveness in extreme circumstances, though this is less common.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
2 Feb. 2026
-
Instead of opting for skintight jeans, 2026 can be the year of straight-leg denim that still flatters a wide range of body types but with a little more forgiveness.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The White House doesn’t comment on potential clemency requests, but the president is the ultimate decider on pardons and commutations.—
Jacqueline Munis,
Fortune,
23 Jan. 2026
-
The White House is sifting through thousands of clemency requests, including a pardon bid by Archegos Capital Management founder Bill Hwang, who was convicted over the collapse of his $36 billion family office.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Amnesty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/amnesty. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
