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
Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2025
The Justice Department is examining pardons issued by Biden in the final days of his presidency, and a separate investigation by the House Oversight Committee into the former president’s cognitive health and use of autopen is also underway.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 18 Sep. 2025
Frank Rajkowski, Twin Cities, 20 Sep. 2025
The docuseries follows the reality-TV family as Todd and Julie are eventually pardoned, released from prison and return home.
—Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 30 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pardon
Noun
An official campaign representing Abd El-Fattah confirmed the pardon on Facebook, adding that the activist will be freed once Sisi’s decree is published in the official gazette.
—Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2025
The Justice Department is examining pardons issued by Biden in the final days of his presidency, and a separate investigation by the House Oversight Committee into the former president’s cognitive health and use of autopen is also underway.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 18 Sep. 2025
Verb
Junior wide receiver Carter Zollar and his teammates had to weather — pardon the pun — a lot Friday night.
—Frank Rajkowski, Twin Cities, 20 Sep. 2025
The docuseries follows the reality-TV family as Todd and Julie are eventually pardoned, released from prison and return home.
—Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 30 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pardon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pardon
Noun
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Immediate forgiveness – a message of letting go of the anger that comes with being so terribly wronged – has a familiar sound to those who have been following a frighteningly violent news cycle.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Recently, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) has also taken legal action against the Department of Education, alleging that the administration has unlawfully delayed or denied access to loan forgiveness programs, such as IDR and PSLF.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
You’d be forgiven for not knowing, since MotoGP, despite being the most prestigious motorcycle racing series in the world, is still a niche sport.—
Erik Shilling,
Robb Report,
6 Oct. 2025
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You’ll be forgiven for not spending a lot of time thinking about zip ties.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The collapse of water security in Iran has been decades in the making and is rooted in a mania for megaprojects—dam building, deep wells, and water transfer schemes—that ignored the fundamentals of hydrology and ecological balance.—
Nik Kowsar,
Time,
2 Oct. 2025
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Pierre LeBrun’s viewpoint Arpon, no doubt the Hughes contract injects a fresh comparable into the discussion that neither the Canadiens nor the Hutson camp can ignore, though using comparables always seems to be in the eye of the beholder.—
Arpon Basu,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Hamas fighters who lay down their arms will also be given amnesty and allowed to leave Gaza under the plan.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
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Hamas fighters who renounce fighting and wish to remain in Gaza will be granted amnesty, while others can take advantage of safe passage to third countries.—
Laura Kelly,
The Hill,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Sweden and Finland might get overlooked by North American fans, but those hockey powers are always keen to crash the party.—
Rob Rossi,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Lynnoland Brass 6-Light Chandelier Light Fixture Don't overlook lighting this Prime Day.—
Melanie Fincher,
Southern Living,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Actors like Andrew Garfield, Chloë Sevigny and Brian Cox have spoken out against their peers who use Method to excuse their own bad behavior.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
5 Oct. 2025
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Plumlee, who had been excused from Monday’s media day activities for personal reasons, has continued to be absent from practice this week and hasn’t spoken about his second tour of duty with Charlotte yet.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
4 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pardon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pardon. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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