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
Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 9 Sep. 2025
Newsom has issued 247 pardons, 160 commutations and 42 reprieves since taking office, his office said.
—Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 31 Aug. 2025
In addition to the commutations, Newsom also granted 23 pardons Friday.
—Jason Green, Mercury News, 30 Aug. 2025
And then right in front of him are two distinct petitions for pardons.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2025
Or to borrow from the title, its grace, a word used in Italian also for official pardons.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2025
Trump has been generous in offering pardons, granting more since returning to the White House in January than most presidents recorded over the entirety of their terms.
—Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 19 Aug. 2025
Trump’s pardons of January 6 rioters and a shift in federal law enforcement’s focus toward immigration have also led many on the far right to believe that federal investigations into white nationalists are no longer a priority.
—Aram Roston, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2025
Greene's public appeal also tests the norms regarding pardons and commuted sentences for former lawmakers and raises questions about equal treatment under federal law.
—Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Aug. 2025
Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 28 Aug. 2025
Noun
Comer has questioned the former president’s use of the autopen for pardons and executive orders and whether his aides covered up his cognitive decline.
—Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 9 Sep. 2025
Newsom has issued 247 pardons, 160 commutations and 42 reprieves since taking office, his office said.
—Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 31 Aug. 2025
In addition to the commutations, Newsom also granted 23 pardons Friday.
—Jason Green, Mercury News, 30 Aug. 2025
And then right in front of him are two distinct petitions for pardons.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2025
Or to borrow from the title, its grace, a word used in Italian also for official pardons.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2025
Trump has been generous in offering pardons, granting more since returning to the White House in January than most presidents recorded over the entirety of their terms.
—Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 19 Aug. 2025
Trump’s pardons of January 6 rioters and a shift in federal law enforcement’s focus toward immigration have also led many on the far right to believe that federal investigations into white nationalists are no longer a priority.
—Aram Roston, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2025
Greene's public appeal also tests the norms regarding pardons and commuted sentences for former lawmakers and raises questions about equal treatment under federal law.
—Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Aug. 2025
Verb
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
Verb
-
The organization purchases medical debt for pennies on the dollar and then forgives it, focusing on individuals with high debt-to-income ratios.—
Beth Warren,
The Tennessean,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
An energy policy that ignores this will get traction depending on which party is in office but not beyond that.—
Robert G. Eccles,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
This perspective ignores the need for people to come to decisions together about truth and reality.—
Sara Giordano,
The Conversation,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Other options include the hilltop Dorn’s Breakers Café, which overlooks the Embarcadero and the ocean, and The Galley Seafood Grill & Bar, famous for its buttery scallops.—
Cu Fleshman,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Sep. 2025
-
This two-bedroom retreat, which overlooks Lake Michigan, is a living, breathing showcase for his work, including pieces from his Landshapes collection with Kohler—a collaboration that highlights how art can be integrated into the rituals of daily life.—
John Wogan,
Robb Report,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pardons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pardons. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share