Synonyms of forgiving

forgiving 1 of 2

adjective

1

as in caring

Related Words

• caring
• compassionate
• loving
• kind
• considerate
• understanding
• affectionate
• humane
• doting
• warmhearted
• cordial
• adoring
• friendly
• devoted
• warm
• fond
• impassioned
• passionate
• tenderhearted
• fervent
• ardent
• erotic
• amorous
• tender
• infatuated
• amatory
• sentimental
• romantic
• lovesick
• enamored
• fatherly
• motherly
• mushy
• brotherly
• sappy
• sisterly
• lovey-dovey

Dissimilar Words

• unloving
• dry
• indifferent
• distant
• aloof
• unbending
• uncaring
• pitiless
• cool
• antisocial
• detached
• standoffish
• unfeeling
• remote
• reserved
• frosty
• unconcerned
• offish
• uninvolved
• unfriendly
• disaffected
• cold
• hard-hearted
• ruthless
• callous
• heartless
• frigid
• cold-eyed
• unsentimental
• soulless
• cold-blooded
• unromantic
• hard-boiled

2

as in charitable

Related Words

• charitable
• scattered
• random
• haphazard
• aimless
• stray
• slapdash
• arbitrary
• undiscriminating
• uncritical
• undemanding
• hit-or-miss
• desultory
• erratic
• directionless
• indiscriminate
• unselective
• indiscriminating
• purposeless
• catch-as-catch-can
• unfussy
• helter-skelter
• objectless
• unsystematic

Dissimilar Words

• judicious
• discriminating
• discerning
• finicky
• demanding
• exacting
• particular
• picky
• fastidious
• fussy
• judgmental
• nitpicky
• finical
• critical
• hypercritical
• overcritical
• captious
• faultfinding
• rejective
• carping
• caviling

forgiving

2 of 2

verb

present participle of forgive

1

as in pardoning

to cease to have feelings of anger or bitterness toward

it is not easy to forgive those who have hurt us

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pardoning
• ignoring
• redeeming
• excusing
• exonerating
• absolving
• acquitting
• vindicating
• exculpating
• condoning
• disregarding
• liberating
• releasing
• remitting
• passing over
• clearing
• discharging
• unburdening
• shriving
• shrugging off

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• resenting
• hating
• despising
• punishing
• disliking
• detesting
• abhorring
• loathing
• retaliating
• avenging
• redressing
• penalizing
• disciplining
• revenging
• abominating
• execrating
• requiting

2

as in ignoring

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

• ignoring
• pardoning
• overlooking
• explaining
• justifying
• excusing
• disregarding
• condoning
• discounting
• whitewashing
• brushing (aside or off)
• passing over
• remitting
• blinking (at)
• overpassing
• winking (at)
• glossing (over)
• forgiving and forgetting
• papering over
• shrugging off
• rationalizing
• exonerating
• glozing (over)
• absolving
• acquitting
• exculpating
• vindicating
• closing one's eyes to
• waiving
• waving (aside or off)
• clearing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• marking
• noting
• objecting (to)
• heeding
• minding

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of forgiving

Adjective

This weekend, Peter Parker is back — a little older, more world-weary and facing a far less forgiving market. — Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026

The Bar Is Higher Now The companies that built their business models around a more forgiving era should take this moment seriously. — Richard Carranza, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026

Verb

Since the education minister's resignation, Modi has also spoken of forgiving those who had mocked the prime minister, an apparent effort to reconnect with younger audiences. — ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026

Pull-on trousers made of stretch fabric feel forgiving enough for hours in the air while looking far more refined than leggings. — Alesandra Dubin, Travel + Leisure, 24 July 2026