forgive

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb forgive differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of forgive are condone, excuse, and pardon. While all these words mean "to exact neither punishment nor redress," forgive implies that one gives up all claim to requital and to resentment or vengeful feelings.

could not forgive their rudeness

When is condone a more appropriate choice than forgive?

The words condone and forgive can be used in similar contexts, but condone implies that one overlooks without censure behavior (such as dishonesty or violence) that involves a serious breach of a moral, ethical, or legal code, and the term may refer to the behavior or to the agent responsible for it.

a society that condones alcohol but not narcotics

When might excuse be a better fit than forgive?

In some situations, the words excuse and forgive are roughly equivalent. However, excuse may refer to specific acts especially in social or conventional situations or the person responsible for these. Often the term implies extenuating circumstances.

excuse an interruption
excused them for interrupting
injustice excuses strong responses

When could pardon be used to replace forgive?

While the synonyms pardon and forgive are close in meaning, pardon implies that one remits a penalty due for an admitted or established offense.

pardon a criminal

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 forgive However, once likable soccer coach Ethan Zohn walked away with the $1 million, all was forgiven. Steve Helling, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025 Or maybe fly to Mars with Musk, freshly forgiven. Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025 And who is there to forgive her? Literary Hub, 23 Sep. 2025 All those things were forgiven as the team won. Cliff Brunt, Denver Post, 23 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for forgive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forgive
Verb
  • In mid-August, Meredith drove to Miami for a gathering of pardoned J6ers and other MAGA minor celebrities.
    Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 24 Sep. 2025
  • He was pardoned in a presidential decree along with five others, according to Egyptian state media.
    Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Since then, Moscow has expanded its drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities, while seemingly ignoring his overtures for further dialogue to end the conflict.
    Matthew Bodner, NBC news, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Certainly the idea that having a bunch of wealth will prevent you from getting into heaven has been conveniently ignored by many adherents.
    Joe Lynch, Billboard, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • At times, the officials handing out honors have been willing to overlook some bad behavior undertaken in the campaign against Castro.
    Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Photos show the couple posing on a balcony that overlooked the city lights.
    Michael Nied, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Erika Kirk also explained why a small stuffed puppet was sitting beside Kirk’s empty microphone.
    Stephanie Murray, AZCentral.com, 27 Sep. 2025
  • Instead, Pittsburgh’s defense rested on the idea that the taxes equal out when considering the school-district tax—a point, as explained above, that failed to persuade the judges who have presided over this litigation.
    Robert Raiola, Sportico.com, 27 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • If Gaza does not count, then nothing does—and the crime of crimes becomes just another weapon for the powerful to excuse, ignore, or commit with impunity.
    Faisal Kutty, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
  • That’s not to excuse the personal foul on Talanoa Hufanga that handed Los Angeles 15 yards on its game-winning drive.
    Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 22 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • On September 24, Judge Smith permanently enjoined DHS from enforcing broad new immigration compliance conditions on a wide range of preparedness grants, ruling the agency had exceeded its statutory authority and failed to justify departing from longstanding grant practices.
    Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Among customers and in financial markets, skepticism is rising as some question whether the massive investment in AI will ever be justified by revenues.
    Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Forgive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forgive. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on forgive

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!