as in excusable
worthy of forgiveness
accidentally spilling your coffee on my newspaper is certainly a forgivable mishap
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Recent Examples of forgivable
Assistance is an interest-free, forgivable, self-amortizing loan in an amount subject to the city’s assessment of needs, not to exceed $24,000.
—
Dallas Morning News, 27 Feb. 2026
Given that Trafford’s commitment in training and his performances on the pitch have not been adversely affected, his disappointment is understandable and, surely, forgivable.
—Sam Lee, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2026
Besides being fully forgivable after 30 years, no interest is charged to the borrower and all payments are deferred, so repayment is made in full only upon ownership change prior to 30 years.
—Mars King, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2026
Some old-school joints use frozen or canned options year-round—a forgivable workaround when doused with enough garlic.
—Becky Duffett, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
In the Bronx, New York, the HOME Down Payment and Closing Costs program offers up to $40,000 in aid, depending on need, with an incrementally forgivable zero-interest, five- to 10-year loan.
—Miami Herald, 15 Jan. 2026
The program, known as PPP, was intended to provide businesses forgivable loans to keep workers on their payrolls while they were shut down or operating at a loss because of public-health restrictions.
—John Kelly, CBS News, 11 Dec. 2025
There can be an argument as to what qualifies as forgivable.
—Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 29 Nov. 2025
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, or CARES, created the Paycheck Protection Program, which provided WisconsinEye with a $112,000 forgivable loan, helping keep the network afloat.
—Anna Kleiber, jsonline.com, 20 Nov. 2025
Dallas Morning News, 27 Feb. 2026
Given that Trafford’s commitment in training and his performances on the pitch have not been adversely affected, his disappointment is understandable and, surely, forgivable.
—Sam Lee, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2026
Besides being fully forgivable after 30 years, no interest is charged to the borrower and all payments are deferred, so repayment is made in full only upon ownership change prior to 30 years.
—Mars King, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2026
Some old-school joints use frozen or canned options year-round—a forgivable workaround when doused with enough garlic.
—Becky Duffett, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
In the Bronx, New York, the HOME Down Payment and Closing Costs program offers up to $40,000 in aid, depending on need, with an incrementally forgivable zero-interest, five- to 10-year loan.
—Miami Herald, 15 Jan. 2026
The program, known as PPP, was intended to provide businesses forgivable loans to keep workers on their payrolls while they were shut down or operating at a loss because of public-health restrictions.
—John Kelly, CBS News, 11 Dec. 2025
There can be an argument as to what qualifies as forgivable.
—Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 29 Nov. 2025
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, or CARES, created the Paycheck Protection Program, which provided WisconsinEye with a $112,000 forgivable loan, helping keep the network afloat.
—Anna Kleiber, jsonline.com, 20 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forgivable
Adjective
-
Some experts believe there are instances where the practice is excusable.—
Theara Coleman,
TheWeek,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Tottenham are in a poor run of form and playing and coaching staff alike are feeling the pressure, so expressions of frustration are to some extent natural and excusable, but there’s a continued and underlying sense of ill-discipline plaguing Frank’s first season in charge.—
Elias Burke,
New York Times,
16 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Many on hand Sunday said the American intervention in the Middle East was justifiable action in response to, among other things, the killings of protesters in Iran earlier this year.—
Adi Guajardo,
CBS News,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Though spending big in a deal for someone such as Thomas is entirely justifiable, because of his age and contract, overpaying for true rentals or older players is a risk better avoided.—
Max Bultman,
New York Times,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
But in this instance, the breach is entirely pardonable, because these two men, Jun and Arthur, have just gotten married.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Aug. 2025
-
All this is to say that any excesses of enthusiasm for Friday (and Thursday) might seem pardonable, although each day reached the thermal pinnacle of the 80s.—
Martin Weil,
Washington Post,
19 July 2024
Cite this Entry
“Forgivable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forgivable. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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