can be forgiven

phrase

—used to say that what a person does or feels is understandable or that a person should not be blamed for doing or feeling something

He can be forgiven for feeling this way after all he's been through.

Examples of can be forgiven in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Most of us can be forgiven for not thinking of time in that manner. — Mike Snider, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026

Readers can be forgiven for feeling a strong sense of déjà vu. — Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 2 Aug. 2026

One can be forgiven for going into Unsayable expecting to witness the formation of one of the most underrated American stylists of his generation. — Literary Hub, 23 July 2026

People can be forgiven for questioning whether Amtrak’s bold new vision will ever come to life, given that more than a dozen Penn redevelopment plans have been proposed and abandoned since the original station was torn down in the 1960s. — Andy Byford, New York Daily News, 5 July 2026

Rhymes for can be forgiven

• driven
• given
• riven
• scriven
• sivan
• striven