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 With stock market charts resembling the contours of a roller-coaster ride in recent days, many Americans could be forgiven for eyeing their 401(k)s with a little concern. Dr. Ronald Premuroso, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2025 Please forgive us for probably passing over your favorite race at the storied track. Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 13 Apr. 2025 The elastic waistband is forgiving (especially post-resort buffet), and the wide legs allow airflow, even in hot climates. Becca Blond, Travel + Leisure, 13 Apr. 2025 Fans have not forgiven him for trading a global superstar in the prime of his career. Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 10 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for forgive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forgive
Verb
  • Trump pardoned Flynn in late 2020, months before leaving office. Correction: John Ratcliffe is director of the CIA.
    Dan Mangan, CNBC, 1 May 2025
  • Another option would be that Trump could pardon anyone charged with contempt.
    Bart Jansen, USA Today, 1 May 2025
Verb
  • Yet in a nation where 42 percent of adults live with obesity—a rate that has nearly doubled since the 1980s—the arrival of a drug that actually works was hard to ignore.
    Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025
  • The Murrow perspective allows Clooney and Heslov to ignore the actual Communist contamination of both the media and the government.
    Armond White, National Review, 30 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Ammos Greek With a terrace overlooking JBR Beach and Bluewaters Island, Ammos Greek, at Rixos Premium Dubai JBR, boasts a chic dining ambiance brimming with Aegean coastal charm.
    Natasha Amar, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
  • Makeshift tents fill the crammed courtyard, the solid edifice of the church overlooking the flimsy havens.
    CNN’s Abeer Salman and Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • This is where cryopreservation comes in, explains seed- and cryobiologist Manuela Nagel of the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, co-author of an article on cryopreservation in the 2024 Annual Review of Plant Biology.
    Katarina Zimmer, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 May 2025
  • Publisher Rockstar Games, a division of Take Two Interactive, explained in a statement to customers that the longer timeline will allow for a better final product.
    Dade Hayes, Deadline, 2 May 2025
Verb
  • Behaviors once deemed unacceptable are becoming normalized and excused.
    Toby Wong, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
  • The school board then revised its Religious Diversity Guidelines to limit the circumstances when students can be excused to noncurricular activities or free-time events that conflict with their family's religious practices.
    Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Reports indicate that some Republican senators have been weighing whether eliminating the California rules justifies breaking that norm.
    Camila Domonoske, NPR, 1 May 2025
  • The Guardians didn’t feel Gimenez offered enough offense to justify his long-term contract, which becomes increasingly expensive.
    Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Forgive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forgive. Accessed 5 May. 2025.

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