can be forgiven
idiom
—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
If payments are made for 12 straight months, as much as $8,000 can be forgiven.
—
Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2024
The Long Hangover In one light, Napoli can be forgiven its precipitous decline this season.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2024
One can be forgiven for getting the impression that a whistleblower is a mythical creature of sorts, a person predestined for the righteous cause.
—Gordon Schnell, Fortune, 2 Jan. 2024
Hardman can be forgiven for the lapse after a season that must have seemed like a fever dream.
—Nate Davis, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024
In one light, Napoli can be forgiven its precipitous decline this season.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2024
But that can be forgiven because of just how impressively the performers commit to their bits.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Apr. 2023
After two seemingly conflicting earnings reports this week, investors can be forgiven some confusion.
—Dan Gallagher, WSJ, 31 Oct. 2023
To an extent, analysts can be forgiven for forgetting these facts.
—Joshua Shifrinson, Foreign Affairs, 17 Oct. 2023
Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2024
The Long Hangover In one light, Napoli can be forgiven its precipitous decline this season.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2024
One can be forgiven for getting the impression that a whistleblower is a mythical creature of sorts, a person predestined for the righteous cause.
—Gordon Schnell, Fortune, 2 Jan. 2024
Hardman can be forgiven for the lapse after a season that must have seemed like a fever dream.
—Nate Davis, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024
In one light, Napoli can be forgiven its precipitous decline this season.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2024
But that can be forgiven because of just how impressively the performers commit to their bits.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Apr. 2023
After two seemingly conflicting earnings reports this week, investors can be forgiven some confusion.
—Dan Gallagher, WSJ, 31 Oct. 2023
To an extent, analysts can be forgiven for forgetting these facts.
—Joshua Shifrinson, Foreign Affairs, 17 Oct. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'can be forgiven.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near can be forgiven
Cite this Entry
“Can be forgiven.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/can%20be%20forgiven. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share