the benefit of the doubt
noun phrase
: the state of accepting something/someone as honest or deserving of trust even though there are doubts
He might be lying, but we have to give him the benefit of the doubt and accept what he says for now.
Examples of the benefit of the doubt in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
And for a team that has not earned the benefit of the doubt this season, such a loss would be disqualifying.
—
Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 22 Nov. 2025
Whether there’s anything scary happening here or not, the market is in no mood to give the benefit of the doubt to credit vehicles operating in the riskier reaches of commercial finance.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 17 Nov. 2025
Notre Dame, meanwhile, has received more of the benefit of the doubt, though the Irish almost certainly can’t lose again, either.
—Grace Raynor, New York Times, 11 Nov. 2025
To Lerner at Truist, the bull market deserves the benefit of the doubt.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the benefit of the doubt
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Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 22 Nov. 2025
Whether there’s anything scary happening here or not, the market is in no mood to give the benefit of the doubt to credit vehicles operating in the riskier reaches of commercial finance.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 17 Nov. 2025
Notre Dame, meanwhile, has received more of the benefit of the doubt, though the Irish almost certainly can’t lose again, either.
—Grace Raynor, New York Times, 11 Nov. 2025
To Lerner at Truist, the bull market deserves the benefit of the doubt.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the benefit of the doubt
Cite this Entry
“The benefit of the doubt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20benefit%20of%20the%20doubt. Accessed 1 Dec. 2025.
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