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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of absolution
Needless to say, the current White House occupant, an actual member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (though Emmy-less himself), is offering no such absolution.
—
Bruce Handy, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025
But clearly Ray does need some sort of absolution, and his confession to his brother is that first step.
—Jocelyn Noveck, Boston Herald, 3 Oct. 2025
That translucent fable of absolution is now being challenged, in Riefenstahl’s own words, by way of an audaciously illuminating documentary from native German writer-director, Andres Veiel, who gained unprecedented access to the late subject’s estate.
—Josh Weiss, Forbes.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Subsequently, Pope Francis granted SSPX priests a slow trickle of faculties, such as the ability to officiate marriages or perform the sacrament of absolution in limited circumstances.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for absolution
Bruce Handy, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025
But clearly Ray does need some sort of absolution, and his confession to his brother is that first step.
—Jocelyn Noveck, Boston Herald, 3 Oct. 2025
That translucent fable of absolution is now being challenged, in Riefenstahl’s own words, by way of an audaciously illuminating documentary from native German writer-director, Andres Veiel, who gained unprecedented access to the late subject’s estate.
—Josh Weiss, Forbes.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Subsequently, Pope Francis granted SSPX priests a slow trickle of faculties, such as the ability to officiate marriages or perform the sacrament of absolution in limited circumstances.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for absolution
Recent Examples of Synonyms for absolution
Noun
-
Her music speaks of high school romance and tearful breakups, first loves, vengeance and revenge, rage, loss, and forgiveness.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Jan. 2026
-
That plan leads to debt forgiveness after 30 years, compared with the typical timeline on other plans.—
Annie Nova,
CNBC,
20 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
But the January amnesty applies only to dog licenses.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Both countries launched amnesty and gun buyback schemes.—
Hilary Whiteman,
CNN Money,
15 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
But Hemphill rejected her pardon, the Idaho Statesman reported.—
David Staats,
Idaho Statesman,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Of the 1,500 or so offenders who received pardons, roughly 600 had been charged with assaulting or obstructing police officers, and 170 had been accused of using deadly weapons in the siege.—
Jeffrey Goldberg,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Absolution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/absolution. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
