as in amnesties
release from the guilt or penalty of an offense
the criminal is hoping for a presidential pardon
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in forgives
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 ignores
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pardons
Seung Min Kim, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
Meanwhile, the richest among us shower him with cash, planes, gold and cryptocurrency to curry pardons for their criminal activities and policies favorable for their businesses.
—Arkansas Online, 10 Feb. 2026
Years of high-profile controversies — plea deals, pardons and investigations that feel politicized depending on who is involved — have left Americans skeptical that justice is blind.
—Kaitlyn Buss, Boston Herald, 8 Feb. 2026
Even for felons, who’ve received a huge number of pardons over the past year.
—Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 5 Feb. 2026
In Hinduism, the deity Ganga is an eminent mother figure who purifies, pardons, and provides moksha, the ultimate eternal bliss.
—Norma Meyer, Oc Register, 4 Feb. 2026
Two cooperating witnesses in the federal case against Vázquez did not receive pardons.
—Israel Melendez Ayala, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
His pardons also disproportionately favored crimes involving dishonesty, Osler wrote.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026
Abraham Lincoln used pardons to encourage defection from the Confederate cause.
—Bernadette Meyler, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
FOXNews.com, 13 Feb. 2026
These changes would ensure a more merciful society, one that pardons in the name not of a sovereign president, but of the people.
—Bernadette Meyler, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
May 29 — In one of many conciliatory moves toward the hip-hop community, Trump pardons Young Boy NBA on a guns conviction.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 31 Dec. 2025
Tennessee governor pardons country star Jelly Roll After years of struggle and transformation, country musician Jelly Roll was pardoned by Tennessee’s governor for his criminal past in the state.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 19 Dec. 2025
Trump pardons Binance founder Changpeng Zhao.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2025
Trump pardons couple in 2025 Julie, 52, was sentenced to seven years at the Federal Medical Center in Lexington, though that sentence was eventually reduced.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 28 Aug. 2025
Noun
The pardons were announced by White House pardon czar Alice Marie Johnson.
—Seung Min Kim, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
Meanwhile, the richest among us shower him with cash, planes, gold and cryptocurrency to curry pardons for their criminal activities and policies favorable for their businesses.
—Arkansas Online, 10 Feb. 2026
Years of high-profile controversies — plea deals, pardons and investigations that feel politicized depending on who is involved — have left Americans skeptical that justice is blind.
—Kaitlyn Buss, Boston Herald, 8 Feb. 2026
Even for felons, who’ve received a huge number of pardons over the past year.
—Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 5 Feb. 2026
In Hinduism, the deity Ganga is an eminent mother figure who purifies, pardons, and provides moksha, the ultimate eternal bliss.
—Norma Meyer, Oc Register, 4 Feb. 2026
Two cooperating witnesses in the federal case against Vázquez did not receive pardons.
—Israel Melendez Ayala, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
His pardons also disproportionately favored crimes involving dishonesty, Osler wrote.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026
Abraham Lincoln used pardons to encourage defection from the Confederate cause.
—Bernadette Meyler, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
Trump pardons 5 former NFL stars for wide-ranging crimes.
—FOXNews.com, 13 Feb. 2026
These changes would ensure a more merciful society, one that pardons in the name not of a sovereign president, but of the people.
—Bernadette Meyler, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
May 29 — In one of many conciliatory moves toward the hip-hop community, Trump pardons Young Boy NBA on a guns conviction.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 31 Dec. 2025
Tennessee governor pardons country star Jelly Roll After years of struggle and transformation, country musician Jelly Roll was pardoned by Tennessee’s governor for his criminal past in the state.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 19 Dec. 2025
Trump pardons Binance founder Changpeng Zhao.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2025
Trump pardons couple in 2025 Julie, 52, was sentenced to seven years at the Federal Medical Center in Lexington, though that sentence was eventually reduced.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 28 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pardons
Noun
-
Even in its ideal form, the bureaucratic pardon would not possess the political legitimacy to undertake large-scale reform or grant broader amnesties.—
Bernadette Meyler,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
-
At the same time, Washington hopes to push a process of national reconciliation, including amnesties for opposition figures, the release of remaining political prisoners and the return of Venezuelans in exile — issues of particular importance to South Florida’s large Venezuelan diaspora.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The bottom line There is no federal program that directly forgives or restructures credit card debt, but that doesn't mean borrowers are stuck.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
8 Dec. 2025
-
Sinnott forgives his parents, and parents today who waver on vaccination.—
Arthur Allen,
Miami Herald,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Once a frame is captured, the chip ignores the full image and registers only moving objects.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Feb. 2026
-
College play can now pay a lot more and prove much more marketable, given that media largely ignores the minor leagues.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
One of Bernhardt’s pets, Uriah, is the shop cat, and spends her days greeting and playing with customers and basking in the sunshine in her kitty hammock, which overlooks the parking lot from a plate glass window.—
Emily M. Olson,
Hartford Courant,
12 Feb. 2026
-
Its architecturally stunning centerpiece overlooks the park’s 19-acre campus, which is expected to become a tourism draw.—
Charles Selle,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pardons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pardons. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
