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 Given all this, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Reid, 41, might be a little miffed by the lack of recognition at Griffith. Lucy Feldman, Time, 15 May 2025 Consumers could be forgiven for some market confusion before HBO Go and Now went soon. David Bloom, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025 There are no limits to the number of donations per person, though fines will not be forgiven for library items that are lost or damaged. Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 May 2025 With all the drama unfolding at the Harrigan's, you could be forgiven for losing track of Harry's dangerous rescue mission. EW.com, 11 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for forgive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forgive
Verb
  • In Minnesota, leaders are bracing for the possibility that Trump will pardon Chauvin, who is serving concurrent state and federal prison sentences for murder, violating Floyd's constitutional rights and other crimes.
    N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 25 May 2025
  • Johnson’s sentence was commuted in 2018, and she was fully pardoned in 2020, but Kardashian seemed unsatisfied with her own level of participation in the process.
    Christie D’Zurilla, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2025
Verb
  • Get best-in-class reporting that's too important to ignore for just $2.50 $1 per month for 1 year.
    Louryn Strampe, Wired News, 24 May 2025
  • Even narrowing the term to the élite outlets that have traditionally set the political agenda would ignore the distance, or even antipathy, that marked such outlets’ relationship with Biden and his team.
    Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 23 May 2025
Verb
  • And for a true craft night, don’t overlook jars or vases as another creative outlet.
    Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 May 2025
  • The priest and academic believes Pope Leo XIV will in many ways follow the trajectory of Pope Francis, showing a similar commitment to care for immigrants, refugees and others who are often overlooked or disparaged.
    Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 17 May 2025
Verb
  • The farm announced via Facebook that its oldest alligator died on Sunday, explaining that Morris lived at the park for 19 years.
    Charna Flam, People.com, 14 May 2025
  • As de Lara explains to Tanner, each Greek temple’s visual experience was different.
    Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 May 2025
Verb
  • Cook County Judge Angela Petrone ordered the juror, who appeared to recover, excused and subbed in one of the alternates.
    Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2025
  • Without excusing Weinstein’s thuggish qualities for a second, Evans was never the physical caricature of the studio exec.
    John Tamny, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
Verb
  • This tactic is sometimes used to justify letting an employee go under the guise of poor performance.
    Sho Dewan, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
  • By confusing the idea that the people’s will must prevail with what the law actually says, these leaders justify intimidating judges and their sound legal rulings, a move that ultimately undermines democracy.
    Michael Gregory, The Conversation, 23 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Forgive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forgive. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

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