as in excusable
worthy of forgiveness
accidentally spilling your coffee on my newspaper is certainly a forgivable mishap
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 forgivable
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
These second mortgages are either repayable or forgivable after 42 months of on-time payments on the owner’s primary mortgage.
—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
In the United States, the Paycheck Protection Program directed nearly $800 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses.
—Ugo Troiano, Oc Register, 25 Oct. 2025
And not much in these pages is forgivable.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
While occasional tardiness is forgivable, consistent lateness can start to chip away at even the strongest friendships.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 5 Oct. 2025
Becky Duffett, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
These second mortgages are either repayable or forgivable after 42 months of on-time payments on the owner’s primary mortgage.
—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
In the United States, the Paycheck Protection Program directed nearly $800 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses.
—Ugo Troiano, Oc Register, 25 Oct. 2025
And not much in these pages is forgivable.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
While occasional tardiness is forgivable, consistent lateness can start to chip away at even the strongest friendships.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 5 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forgivable
Adjective
-
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
-
Too many Republicans today seem to have a different idea, that bad behavior is excusable so long as the perpetrator is advancing their priorities.—
Colin Pascal,
Baltimore Sun,
4 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Others said that the shooting is seemingly an extreme case and that charges might have been justifiable.—
Ben Wheeler,
Kansas City Star,
23 Jan. 2026
-
For much of the 20th century, Sweden enjoyed a justifiable reputation as one of Europe’s most egalitarian countries.—
Miranda Sheild Johansson,
Fortune,
22 Jan. 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 1 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
