as in forgiveness
release from the guilt or penalty of an offense
the criminal is hoping for a presidential pardon
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to forgive
to cease to have feelings of anger or bitterness toward
he eventually pardoned his sister after she apologized
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to ignore
to dismiss as of little importance
I'm willing to pardon a little sloppiness of dress in such a kind and loving person
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pardon
Khalil Cumberbatch, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
Even House Speaker Mike Johnson, who otherwise has humored Trump at every turn, has expressed revulsion at the idea of a pardon.
—Robin Abcarian, Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2025
James Frater, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
Pike, who was a Freemason and was pardoned by President Andrew Johnson, has also been identified by historians as possibly having been involved with the development of the Ku Klux Klan in the period after the Civil War.
—NPR, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pardon
Noun
Gerald Ford’s pardon of Richard Nixon was divisive.
—Khalil Cumberbatch, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
Even House Speaker Mike Johnson, who otherwise has humored Trump at every turn, has expressed revulsion at the idea of a pardon.
—Robin Abcarian, Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
In 2013, Queen Elizabeth II posthumously pardoned Alan Turing, the World War II codebreaker convicted under laws criminalizing homosexuality, and in 2017 the UK government extended the pardon to thousands of other gay and bisexual men convicted under similar statutes.
—James Frater, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
Pike, who was a Freemason and was pardoned by President Andrew Johnson, has also been identified by historians as possibly having been involved with the development of the Ku Klux Klan in the period after the Civil War.
—NPR, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pardon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pardon
Noun
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Tuesday’s election results will have a particularly notable impact on residents expecting utility shutoffs or seeking forgiveness for late payments.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
5 Nov. 2025
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The result is a ski that is balanced and stable, with enough backbone for the experts yet enough forgiveness for intermediates.—
Kimberly Beekman,
Outside,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Even amid a government shutdown, so much is happening in Washington, at such a rapid clip and such a high pitch, that a browser of The New York Times’ homepage could be forgiven for giving up and clicking straight through to Spelling Bee.—
Erik Adams,
The Atlantic,
9 Nov. 2025
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You'd be forgiven for being a little sick of A Christmas Story, Bob Clark's beloved tale about 9-year-old Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) and the Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot range model air rifle he so fiercely desires.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The same is true of Guiteau’s eventual imprisonment and trial, which aren’t ignored but barely touch on the wackiness that actually ensued.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Nov. 2025
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There were extremely rich philosophical traditions in the non-Western world that your great books classes completely ignore.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Back in July, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins dismissed the possibility of amnesty for farmworkers — and shrugged off the idea that foreign workers are needed in the agriculture sector.—
Patricia Lopez,
Mercury News,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Hamas members who disarm could receive amnesty or safe passage abroad.—
Cameron Schoppa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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While maintaining a healthy weight plays a role in mitigating cardiovascular and diabetes risk, the measurement alone overlooks the importance of muscle as a predictor of healthy aging and longevity.—
Alexa Mikhail,
Flow Space,
10 Nov. 2025
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The iconic 12th century Ajloun Castle overlooks rolling hills and olive groves, with dramatic panoramas and drone-friendly views.—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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That does not excuse, but that’s his personal [life].—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
9 Nov. 2025
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But missing Curry did not excuse the team’s lapses.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pardon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pardon. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.
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