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

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

So they can be forgiven for trying to get by without explosive weapons. — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 8 Mar. 2026

Since the actor talking directly to the camera is Rachel Weisz, all can be forgiven if not entirely forgotten. — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026

Not every action can be forgiven. — Geoffrey Greif, Baltimore Sun, 28 Feb. 2026

Rhymes for can be forgiven

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