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

While energy exports dominate national security briefings, agricultural inputs operate on a different and less forgiving timeline. —Ariel Cohen, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026

Mercedes says the sedan has a range of 435 miles on the forgiving WLTP test cycle, which means likely means an EPA estimate closer to 300 miles. —Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 20 May 2026

The Jesse Minter era will start on the road in Indianapolis, the beginning of a potentially forgiving season-opening stretch where the Baltimore Ravens face NFC teams in three of the first five weeks, travel to Brazil in Week 3 and won’t have their first AFC North tilt until mid-October. —Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 14 May 2026

Hull suggests going for softer and more forgiving shades of white, like off-whites or warm whites. —Asia London Palomba, The Spruce, 12 May 2026

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