as in forgiveness
release from the guilt or penalty of an offense
the jury's verdict of "not guilty" was absolution in the eyes of the law, but the verdict would always be "guilty" in the court of public opinion
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Recent Examples of absolution
The road to Trump begins, in some moral sense, with the absolution of Nixon.
—
Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2025
The clergy could expect the fulfillment of prophecy, and the poor and the oppressed could look forward to absolution and better living quarters.
—Arthur Krystal, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2025
Large crowds turned out in northern India on Wednesday for the last day of the six-week Maha Kumbh Mela that drew a total of 663 million people seeking absolution of their sins by taking a dip in waters that devout Hindus consider sacred.
—Reuters, NBC News, 27 Feb. 2025
The result is an absolution of guilt, meaning the conviction is wiped out.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for absolution
Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2025
The clergy could expect the fulfillment of prophecy, and the poor and the oppressed could look forward to absolution and better living quarters.
—Arthur Krystal, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2025
Large crowds turned out in northern India on Wednesday for the last day of the six-week Maha Kumbh Mela that drew a total of 663 million people seeking absolution of their sins by taking a dip in waters that devout Hindus consider sacred.
—Reuters, NBC News, 27 Feb. 2025
The result is an absolution of guilt, meaning the conviction is wiped out.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for absolution
Recent Examples of Synonyms for absolution
Noun
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In that time, borrowers have seen policy changes, inaccurate payment information, and unfulfilled promises of loan forgiveness.—
Chris Morris,
Fortune,
24 June 2025
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The procession is a part of the Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year which occurs every 25 years to celebrate forgiveness and often features a pilgrimage to a sacred site.—
Jack Rodriquez-Vars,
Sacbee.com,
21 June 2025
Noun
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The fireworks amnesty events will both run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 21.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado,
Sacbee.com,
19 June 2025
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None was prosecuted despite the post-apartheid Truth and Reconciliation Commission identifying them and denying them amnesty in the late 1990s.—
Michelle Gumede,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2025
Noun
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Todd and Julie were released from prison on May 28 after receiving full pardons from President Donald Trump one day prior.—
Stephanie Wenger,
People.com,
29 June 2025
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On May 28, Tanner Mansell and John Moore Jr. were two of the sixteen recipients of Trump’s full pardons after the pair were convicted in 2020 of theft of property within special maritime jurisdiction.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
28 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Absolution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/absolution. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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