as in excusable
worthy of forgiveness
the new parents' gushing pride was pardonable
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Recent Examples of pardonable
But in this instance, the breach is entirely pardonable, because these two men, Jun and Arthur, have just gotten married.
—
Literary Hub, 15 Aug. 2025
All this is to say that any excesses of enthusiasm for Friday (and Thursday) might seem pardonable, although each day reached the thermal pinnacle of the 80s.
—Martin Weil, Washington Post, 19 July 2024
According to Cohen, because misdemeanor possession of marijuana is now a pardonable offense, Department of Justice guidelines would not permit a plea to that effect.
—Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2024
What happened, then, was surely a result of a pardonable misunderstanding.
—New York Times, 11 Feb. 2020
In this case, to be fair, the length is a pardonable fault, for there is plenty here on which to feast.
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2019
However, no one went hungry, and after a wholly pardonable delay all were accommodated.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2019
But now, without any provocation, and without the justification of reprisal or retaliation, a refusal to outlaw the use of the bomb save in reprisal is making a political purpose of its possession; this is hardly pardonable.
—Rosa Inocencio Smith, The Atlantic, 2 Aug. 2017
Literary Hub, 15 Aug. 2025
All this is to say that any excesses of enthusiasm for Friday (and Thursday) might seem pardonable, although each day reached the thermal pinnacle of the 80s.
—Martin Weil, Washington Post, 19 July 2024
According to Cohen, because misdemeanor possession of marijuana is now a pardonable offense, Department of Justice guidelines would not permit a plea to that effect.
—Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2024
What happened, then, was surely a result of a pardonable misunderstanding.
—New York Times, 11 Feb. 2020
In this case, to be fair, the length is a pardonable fault, for there is plenty here on which to feast.
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2019
However, no one went hungry, and after a wholly pardonable delay all were accommodated.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2019
But now, without any provocation, and without the justification of reprisal or retaliation, a refusal to outlaw the use of the bomb save in reprisal is making a political purpose of its possession; this is hardly pardonable.
—Rosa Inocencio Smith, The Atlantic, 2 Aug. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pardonable
Adjective
-
Too many Republicans today seem to have a different idea, that bad behavior is excusable so long as the perpetrator is advancing their priorities.—
Colin Pascal,
Baltimore Sun,
4 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Security, errors, and trust dominate the risk analysis Despite the hype and muddled terminology, the core idea of AI agents—systems designed to autonomously take action to carry out specific tasks—is still generating a lot of justifiable excitement.—
Sage Lazzaro,
Fortune,
3 Sep. 2025
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As an epic celebration of imperialism, colonialization, and warfare, the Aeneid is often viewed with justifiable wariness by twenty-first-century readers.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
And while most human errors are forgivable, maybe even expected, some cost more than an apology.—
Jason Phillips,
USA Today,
22 Aug. 2025
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Initially, Congress authorized up to $349 billion in forgivable loans as part of the program.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
21 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
But logging off—and returning to the sphere in which people are apt to forgive one another for venial affronts—is no longer an option.—
Becca Rothfeld,
The New Yorker,
21 Mar. 2022
-
And that loyalty has been reciprocated with job security and forgiveness of venial sins.—
cleveland,
cleveland,
12 Dec. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Pardonable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pardonable. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.
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