as in forgiveness
release from the guilt or penalty of an offense
the president of France traditionally grants amnesty to specially selected prisoners on Bastille Day
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Recent Examples of amnesty
The six former policemen implicated in the killings were never prosecuted despite being identified and denied amnesty during South Africa's post-apartheid Truth and Reconciliation process in the late 1990s.
—
CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
Now, prisoners are leaving El Helicoide, as the Rodríguez government implements an amnesty law that has benefited hundreds of dissidents.
—Manuel Rueda, NPR, 20 Mar. 2026
After the successful defense of the city, the Portuguese governor extended amnesty to all rebels who surrendered.
—Literary Hub, 19 Mar. 2026
Rodriguez’s interim government has passed an amnesty law and released 670 political prisoners, yet more than 500 remain behind bars, according to Venezuela’s Foro Penal human rights group.
—Andres Oppenheimer
march 12, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for amnesty
CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
Now, prisoners are leaving El Helicoide, as the Rodríguez government implements an amnesty law that has benefited hundreds of dissidents.
—Manuel Rueda, NPR, 20 Mar. 2026
After the successful defense of the city, the Portuguese governor extended amnesty to all rebels who surrendered.
—Literary Hub, 19 Mar. 2026
Rodriguez’s interim government has passed an amnesty law and released 670 political prisoners, yet more than 500 remain behind bars, according to Venezuela’s Foro Penal human rights group.
—Andres Oppenheimer
march 12, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for amnesty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for amnesty
Noun
-
Honorable mention in the forgiveness category went to Judge Kathleen Coffey, founder of the Homeless Court at Boston’s Pine Street Inn.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
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To be eligible, you must have been employed with an eligible company during the SAVE plan pause and be close enough to forgiveness that making those payments would get you to 10 years, which is 120 months.—
Claire Rafford,
IndyStar,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The president later granted Stone a full pardon.—
Mary Ramsey,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Mar. 2026
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As governor, Moore himself issued a mass pardon for misdemeanor drug convictions.—
Steve Inskeep,
NPR,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Amnesty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/amnesty. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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