Synonyms of pardoning

pardoning 1 of 2

adjective

as in remitting

Related Words

• remitting
• absolving
• condoning
• compensatory
• exonerating
• vindicating
• exculpatory
• exculpating
• acquitting
• commuting
• reprieving
• nonpunitive

Dissimilar Words

• penal
• punitive
• correctional
• disciplinary
• correcting
• corrective
• disciplining
• chastening
• retaliatory
• revengeful
• retributive
• penalizing
• castigating
• chastising
• vengeful
• wrathful
• retaliative
• retributory

pardoning

2 of 2

verb

present participle of pardon

1

as in forgiving

to cease to have feelings of anger or bitterness toward

he eventually pardoned his sister after she apologized

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

2

as in ignoring

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

• forgiving
• ignoring
• overlooking
• explaining
• justifying
• excusing
• disregarding
• condoning
• discounting
• remitting
• whitewashing
• passing over
• brushing (aside or off)
• blinking (at)
• winking (at)
• glossing (over)
• papering over
• shrugging off
• forgiving and forgetting
• exonerating
• overpassing
• rationalizing
• acquitting
• absolving
• exculpating
• glozing (over)
• 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 pardoning

Verb

President Bill Clinton came under fire for pardoning former hedge-fund manager Marc Rich, and President Joe Biden was roundly criticized for pardoning his son, Hunter, as well as preemptively pardoning other family members. — Ryan Lucas, NPR, 13 May 2026

The Democrats have signaled that they are united in opposition to any talk of pardoning Maxwell. — Shirsho Dasgupta, Miami Herald, 25 Apr. 2026

His legal restoration began in 2020 with Trump pardoning him for lying to the FBI. — Michael Loria, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2026

Trump has repeatedly and publicly called for her release since his return to office last year, and he’s castigated Polis for not pardoning her or transferring her into federal custody. — Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 11 Mar. 2026

In response to a request for comment about the recent social media campaign, a White House spokesperson reiterated to Fortune that Trump has no intention of pardoning Bankman-Fried. — Leo Schwartz, Fortune, 24 Feb. 2026

Trump started his second presidency by pardoning the insurrectionists who’d wanted to unlawfully extend his first. — Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 23 Feb. 2026

Nearly a century later, in 1977, Jimmy Carter helped mend the divisions plaguing the United States in the aftermath of the Vietnam War by pardoning those who had dodged the draft. — Bernadette Meyler, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026

South Korea has a history of pardoning former presidents who were jailed over diverse crimes in the name of promoting national unity. — Hyung-Jin Kim, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026