forgiving

adjective

for·​giv·​ing fər-ˈgi-viŋ 

fȯr-

1

: willing or able to forgive

2

: allowing room for error or weakness

designed to be a forgiving tennis racquet

forgivingly adverb

forgivingness noun

Examples of forgiving in a Sentence

a person with a forgiving nature

Recent Examples on the Web

Kevin Kelly, a hairstylist and founder of Kevin Kelly Salon, says that straight, wavy and curly hair all respond to hair cuts differently, with curly and wavy styles being a little more forgiving if a trim isn't completely even. —Hannah Yasharoff, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2025

The vast majority of skeptics were far less forgiving. —Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 23 Apr. 2025

There’s no roof between you and nature, and the adaptive suspension is a skosh more forgiving. —Lawrence Ulrich, Robb Report, 25 Mar. 2025

Those details can be ironed out with time and experience but the Euros will be less forgiving. —Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1623, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for forgiving

• almsgiving
• caregiving
• misgiving
• nonliving
• reliving
• thanksgiving
• giving
• living
• sieving
• unforgiving

Kids Definition

forgiving

adjective

for·​giv·​ing

fər-ˈgiv-iŋ,

fȯr-

1

: showing forgiveness : inclined or ready to forgive

a person with a forgiving nature

2

: allowing for human error or weakness

a tennis racket designed to be forgiving

forgivingly adverb

forgivingness noun