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
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
Instead there was a focus on identitarian politics, as though an acknowledgement of one’s whiteness, a telling of one’s awareness of racist histories, can act as absolution from them.
—Emily Van Duyne
july 24, Literary Hub, 24 July 2025
The 47-year-old rapper and fashion mogul posted a series of messages on social media, asking for absolution while expressing a newfound stance of inclusivity and remorse.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for absolution
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
Instead there was a focus on identitarian politics, as though an acknowledgement of one’s whiteness, a telling of one’s awareness of racist histories, can act as absolution from them.
—Emily Van Duyne
july 24, Literary Hub, 24 July 2025
The 47-year-old rapper and fashion mogul posted a series of messages on social media, asking for absolution while expressing a newfound stance of inclusivity and remorse.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for absolution
Recent Examples of Synonyms for absolution
Noun
-
After receiving the loan, IGNITE received forgiveness of the total loan amount and more than $7,000 in interest, authorities said.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
8 Jan. 2026
-
With debt forgiveness, the end goal is to come to an agreement with your creditors to pay less than the full balance in return for a lump sum payment on the account.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
7 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 13 Jan. 2026.
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