Choose the Right Synonym for condone

excuse, condone, pardon, forgive mean to exact neither punishment nor redress. excuse may refer to specific acts especially in social or conventional situations or the person responsible for these. excuse an interruption excused them for interrupting Often the term implies extenuating circumstances. injustice excuses strong responses 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 pardon implies that one remits a penalty due for an admitted or established offense. pardon a criminal forgive implies that one gives up all claim to requital and to resentment or vengeful feelings. could not forgive their rudeness

Did you know?

Since some folks don't condone even minor usage slips, you might want to get the meaning of this word straight. Although English speakers sometimes use condone with the intended meaning "approve of" or "encourage," the more established meaning is closer to "pardon" or "overlook." Condone comes from the Latin verb condonare, which means "to absolve." Condonare in turn combines the Latin prefix con-, indicating thoroughness, and donare, meaning "to give" or "to grant." Not surprisingly, donare is also the source of our words donate and pardon.

Examples of condone in a Sentence

"I don't condone violence, and I think 'gangsta rap' should be outlawed," says [designer Tommy] Hilfiger … — Joshua Levine, Forbes, 21 Apr. 1997 Without waiting for Momma's thanks, he rode out of the yard, sure that things were as they should be and that he was a gentle squire, saving those deserving serfs from the laws of the land, which he condoned. — Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, 1969 And then she told him all—told him the truth word by word, without attempting to shield herself or condone her error. — Edgar Rice Burroughs, Tarzan of the Apes, 1912 a government that has been accused of condoning racism he is too quick to condone his friend's faults

Recent Examples on the Web San Jose police Chief Anthony Mata said his department does not condone drug use and is cooperating with the Milpitas investigation. — Bradford Betz, Fox News, 1 May 2022 On Sunday, the Academy released a statement saying the organization does not condone violence. — Charles Trepany, USA TODAY, 28 Mar. 2022 As their conversations increasingly turn toward despair, The Girl From Plainville takes pains not to romanticize or condone Michelle and Conrad’s choices. — Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Mar. 2022 My wife does not condone my reasons for finding our guest's statement irritating. — Washington Post, 2 Feb. 2022 But for one of the NFL’s marquee headliners, a man who has almost always presented himself as a class act, to suddenly condone violence was so tacky. — Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY, 18 Jan. 2022 Department leaders often condone these reprisals or pile on by launching internal investigations to discredit those who expose wrongdoing. — Gina Barton, USA TODAY, 17 Nov. 2021 The concept of God is a sticking point to many, having been used throughout history to condone the opposite of what Tya is. — Melanie Fine, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2022 Almost nowhere is this disconnect greater than with informal units, which cities tacitly accept as a crucial part of their housing supply but don’t exactly condone and often empty or demolish if someone complains. — New York Times, 18 Dec. 2021 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'condone.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.