1
as in pardoned
to cease to have feelings of anger or bitterness toward
it is not easy to forgive those who have hurt us
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ignored
to dismiss as of little importance
he has so many good qualities that I guess we can forgive a slight penchant for exaggeration
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 forgiven
Newbury Street still hasn’t forgiven her.
—
Wendy Murphy, Boston Herald, 13 Apr. 2026
You’d be forgiven for getting the impression that Apple and Netflix were at odds somehow upon seeing the reports that Netflix has switched the content-player screen on its Apple TV app back to its own design instead of the native Apple player.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2026
The agreement allows the loan to be repaid over 10 years, but the payments will be forgiven by the village if the restaurant remains in operation for 10 years.
—Jennifer Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
This occurs when uninsured patients cannot afford to pay their bill — and sometimes have that debt forgiven through a hospital’s charity care program — and when reimbursements from Medicaid and Medicare don’t fully cover the cost of delivering those services.
—Dené K. Dryden, Twin Cities, 6 Apr. 2026
Readers of The Meaning of Your Life could be forgiven for thinking that despair was invented in 2007, the year the first iPhone was released.
—Literary Hub, 2 Apr. 2026
New doctors can take jobs with rural hospitals or urban health centers and have federal loan debt forgiven in exchange.
—Suzanne King, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
There were ups and downs in his first season — easily forgiven as a newcomer to the league and the level, having previously managed in Germany’s second division — but year two has been more turbulent.
—Andy Naylor, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2026
In other words, voters would be forgiven for confusion at the polls.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 27 Mar. 2026
Wendy Murphy, Boston Herald, 13 Apr. 2026
You’d be forgiven for getting the impression that Apple and Netflix were at odds somehow upon seeing the reports that Netflix has switched the content-player screen on its Apple TV app back to its own design instead of the native Apple player.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2026
The agreement allows the loan to be repaid over 10 years, but the payments will be forgiven by the village if the restaurant remains in operation for 10 years.
—Jennifer Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
This occurs when uninsured patients cannot afford to pay their bill — and sometimes have that debt forgiven through a hospital’s charity care program — and when reimbursements from Medicaid and Medicare don’t fully cover the cost of delivering those services.
—Dené K. Dryden, Twin Cities, 6 Apr. 2026
Readers of The Meaning of Your Life could be forgiven for thinking that despair was invented in 2007, the year the first iPhone was released.
—Literary Hub, 2 Apr. 2026
New doctors can take jobs with rural hospitals or urban health centers and have federal loan debt forgiven in exchange.
—Suzanne King, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
There were ups and downs in his first season — easily forgiven as a newcomer to the league and the level, having previously managed in Germany’s second division — but year two has been more turbulent.
—Andy Naylor, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2026
In other words, voters would be forgiven for confusion at the polls.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 27 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forgiven
Verb
-
His father pardoned him on all charges after the 2024 election.—
Joseph Konig,
PEOPLE,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Hungary’s president at the time, Katalin Novák, had pardoned a former official convicted of helping cover up the abuse of underaged boys at a children’s home.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But documents released by the government in March, after being forced to by Parliament, showed Starmer ignored red flags raised by his staff about the appointment.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
America’s $39 trillion national debt has become a familiar political football—batted around in budget negotiations, invoked at congressional hearings, and largely ignored between elections.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
As the couple continued to pepper Harry with questions, Caroline excused herself to get another seltzer.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Dewey is excused from his parents’ anniversary party, given his success as a pianist, but Lois demands that everyone else be present, including Malcolm.—
Allison McClain Merrill,
Parents,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
As co-founder of Jason Hyde Jewelry, Deborah Singer explained, people are often surprised to learn that each piece begins as plastic pulled from the ocean, transformed through upcycling.—
Najahe Sherman,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
The client, Mukherjee explained, was in the midst of a life-threatening medical crisis.—
Sarah Stillman,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Senior Iranian leaders have repeatedly denied Israel’s legitimacy, predicted its destruction and framed that outcome as inevitable and justified.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Customs and Border Protection rules say that pepper balls and other projectiles should not be aimed at vulnerable areas such as the head or spine unless deadly force is justified.—
Rebekah Riess,
CNN Money,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
What tends to be overlooked, in the aesthetic shock, is Proust’s elaborate hymn to its moral and spiritual implications.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Latinos are a fundamental part of American history and culture, and one of the largest communities in the United States, yet their presence in Hollywood has long been limited, stereotyped, or overlooked.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Forgiven.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forgiven. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
