forgive

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb forgive differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of forgive are condone, excuse, and pardon. While all these words mean "to exact neither punishment nor redress," forgive implies that one gives up all claim to requital and to resentment or vengeful feelings.

could not forgive their rudeness

When is condone a more appropriate choice than forgive?

The words condone and forgive can be used in similar contexts, but condone implies that one overlooks without censure behavior (such as dishonesty or violence) that involves a serious breach of a moral, ethical, or legal code, and the term may refer to the behavior or to the agent responsible for it.

a society that condones alcohol but not narcotics

When might excuse be a better fit than forgive?

In some situations, the words excuse and forgive are roughly equivalent. However, excuse may refer to specific acts especially in social or conventional situations or the person responsible for these. Often the term implies extenuating circumstances.

excuse an interruption
excused them for interrupting
injustice excuses strong responses

When could pardon be used to replace forgive?

While the synonyms pardon and forgive are close in meaning, pardon implies that one remits a penalty due for an admitted or established offense.

pardon a criminal

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 forgive Kids may be hit with tax bombs whether they are forgiven in '26 or in a state that taxes forgiveness amounts regardless of the timeline. Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025 Throughout the show, Conrad is forgiven by fans for being uncommunicative and avoidant. Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 29 Aug. 2025 Given the longstanding love affair between beer and grilled and barbecued meats, you could be forgiven for overlooking a less-talked-about pairing opportunity. Jay R. Brooks, Mercury News, 29 Aug. 2025 The loose, forgiving silhouettes will keep you comfortable and chic from takeoff to landing, while high-quality fabrics make every purchase well worth the investment. Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 28 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for forgive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forgive
Verb
  • Polish state media also reported that Polish nationals have been pardoned.
    Darya Tarasova, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
  • In the end, Frizer was found to have acted in self-defense and officially pardoned by the Queen.
    Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • That many in the media have ignored the unit’s rise is an indictment.
    Sean Durns, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Amid all its glorious and aesthetic architecture lies the massive environmental impact that cannot be ignored.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Taco Heads, which grew from a West Seventh Street taco truck to a sprawling restaurant overlooking the Cultural District, has a new owner and will be getting a new look.
    Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Sep. 2025
  • The homeowner’s suite, comprising a large bedroom, a sitting/dressing room, lots of closet space, and a bathroom with marble vanities, spills onto a deck overlooking the yard.
    Mark David, Robb Report, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • At each camp, the team leaves behind a small but powerful item, a red card that explains what to do during encounters with immigration officials.
    David Rodriguez Muñoz, Freep.com, 7 Sep. 2025
  • The powers that be explained to me that in the audiobook, there would be no easy way to identify the bees’ chapters, which were designated with italics in the printed version, unless the narrator’s voice changed from female to male.
    Elizabeth Bass Parman, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • But that legal reality shouldn’t excuse the behavior.
    Matt Germer, Oc Register, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Listening to these women fawn all over Julia for carrying the laird’s child, for carrying a future king, listening to them excuse away Julia being unmarried, all of it makes Davina blow a fuse.
    Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • That explains why the two-perspective structure couldn’t be justified in an episode like this and exposes the weakness of the conceit in the first place.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The excitement may be justified, but so is the concern when regulatory structures fail to keep pace with demand.
    Lindsay O'Neill, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Forgive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forgive. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.

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