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
Lalee Ibssa, ABC News, 24 Sep. 2025
The Justice Department is examining pardons issued by Biden in the final days of his presidency, and a separate investigation by the House Oversight Committee into the former president’s cognitive health and use of autopen is also underway.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 18 Sep. 2025
Savannah, who led the charge to obtain pardons for her parents after they were sentenced to federal prison in 2022 on bank fraud and tax evasion charges, learned that her parents would be released less than 24 hours before it was set to happen.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Sep. 2025
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
Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 28 Aug. 2025
Noun
Trump has suggested that the pardons Biden signed using the technology should be considered null and void.
—Lalee Ibssa, ABC News, 24 Sep. 2025
The Justice Department is examining pardons issued by Biden in the final days of his presidency, and a separate investigation by the House Oversight Committee into the former president’s cognitive health and use of autopen is also underway.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 18 Sep. 2025
Savannah, who led the charge to obtain pardons for her parents after they were sentenced to federal prison in 2022 on bank fraud and tax evasion charges, learned that her parents would be released less than 24 hours before it was set to happen.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Sep. 2025
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
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
-
But the Democratic Party seems to prefer a selective vision of free speech, one that ignores the most glaring and visible current example of suppression.—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
3 Oct. 2025
-
The 26-year-old ignores the advice and begins intense survival training.—
Erik Pedersen,
Deadline,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
On May 4, the legendary midnight blue carriages will travel south from Paris toward Pompeii and onward to the clifftop sanctuary of Caruso, a hotel also owned by Belmond, which overlooks the Amalfi Coast.—
Sofia Celeste,
Footwear News,
13 Oct. 2025
-
The reopening includes Highway 67 to Forest Service Road W1 at about mile marker 11, plus Cape Royal Road, providing access to the Cape Royal and Point Imperial overlooks.—
Michael Salerno,
AZCentral.com,
9 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pardons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pardons. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share