as in amnesties
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 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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of pardons
Cullen Murphy, The Atlantic, 13 June 2026
Trump issued mass pardons to Capitol rioters on his first day back in the White House last year.
—Michael Kunzelman, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
Moriarty's office noted that state sentences are not affected by presidential pardons.
—Aki Nace, CBS News, 11 June 2026
Bankman-Fried’s clemency bid comes amid a wave of pardons that Trump has doled out to not only high-profile crypto figures—among them Binance founder Changpeng Zhao and Silk Road creator Ross Ulbricht—but also other white-collar criminals.
—Camila Grigera Naon, Fortune, 9 June 2026
Seven of the plaintiffs were ultimately convicted, and all received pardons last year.
—Laura Romero, ABC News, 3 June 2026
The Potential Benefits of Conditional Pardons How, then, can the president’s ability to issue conditional pardons or commutations serve to mitigate the most notable downsides of this country’s growing pardon debacle?
—Robert Radick, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
The Tribune has reviewed the names of people who have received pardons or commutations going back to the 1950s.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
Senegal supporters who were detained in Morocco in the wake of the chaotic Africa Cup of Nations final in January have been released after receiving royal pardons.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 25 May 2026
Jay Stahl, USA Today, 7 June 2026
President Kennedy pardons his predecessor, Nixon, for his involvement in the Watergate scandal.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 17 Apr. 2026
Being the president and all, Richard pardons himself and Jenny.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Feb. 2026
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
Noun
Roman emperors, sometimes urged on by the crowd, were known to grant pardons (to criminals) and freedom (to the enslaved) after an especially noteworthy performance.
—Cullen Murphy, The Atlantic, 13 June 2026
Trump issued mass pardons to Capitol rioters on his first day back in the White House last year.
—Michael Kunzelman, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
Moriarty's office noted that state sentences are not affected by presidential pardons.
—Aki Nace, CBS News, 11 June 2026
Bankman-Fried’s clemency bid comes amid a wave of pardons that Trump has doled out to not only high-profile crypto figures—among them Binance founder Changpeng Zhao and Silk Road creator Ross Ulbricht—but also other white-collar criminals.
—Camila Grigera Naon, Fortune, 9 June 2026
Seven of the plaintiffs were ultimately convicted, and all received pardons last year.
—Laura Romero, ABC News, 3 June 2026
The Potential Benefits of Conditional Pardons How, then, can the president’s ability to issue conditional pardons or commutations serve to mitigate the most notable downsides of this country’s growing pardon debacle?
—Robert Radick, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
The Tribune has reviewed the names of people who have received pardons or commutations going back to the 1950s.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
Senegal supporters who were detained in Morocco in the wake of the chaotic Africa Cup of Nations final in January have been released after receiving royal pardons.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 25 May 2026
Verb
Trump pardons ex-Republican congressman.
—Jay Stahl, USA Today, 7 June 2026
President Kennedy pardons his predecessor, Nixon, for his involvement in the Watergate scandal.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 17 Apr. 2026
Being the president and all, Richard pardons himself and Jenny.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Feb. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pardons
Verb
-
There is no blanket federal program that automatically forgives credit card debt simply because someone is a veteran.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Sinnott forgives his parents, and parents today who waver on vaccination.—
Arthur Allen,
Miami Herald,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Six Sex never ignores the horrors, but uses them as fuel for a debut that unfurls as a freewheeling post-porno blitz.—
E.R. Pulgar,
Pitchfork,
11 June 2026
-
But dismissing the current structure as inadequate or politically driven ignores decades of success and the collaborative model that has restored and sustained wildlife populations nationwide.—
Mike Elfenbein,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
The new Commerce Street entrance overlooks the Fort Worth Water Garden with three-story floor-to-ceiling windows.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Dec. 2025
-
Ohio University’s Peden Stadium, the oldest in the Mid-American Conference, is officially designated an Ohio Historical Site, with the Victory Hill berm that overlooks the Hocking River.—
The Athletic College Football Staff,
New York Times,
3 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pardons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pardons. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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