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

The World Cup’s new, forgiving format allows the top eight of the 12 third-place teams, like third-place South Korea (1-0-2), to move on to knockout play with as few as three points. — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 26 June 2026

When Argentina lost the opening game to Saudi Arabia in a smaller, less forgiving format, the stakes could not have been higher. — Oliver Kay, New York Times, 23 June 2026

Verb

That forgiving quality is part of why the look feels livable rather than precious. — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 18 July 2026

Growing up in a rural college town, fall meant a dramatic foliage shift, forgiving temperatures, and weekend road trips aplenty. — Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 17 July 2026