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
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Recent Examples of pardons
Joe Walsh, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
The Cuban Embassy in Washington said authorities granted pardons to 2,010 inmates under provisions of the country’s constitution, citing factors such as good behavior, time already served and health conditions.
—Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 3 Apr. 2026
Prosecutors were stymied in their efforts to find a criminal case in President Joe Biden’s use of an autopen to grant pardons.
—Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2026
And the punishment must be carried out within 90 days of sentencing without any possibility for pardons or commutations.
—Matt Bradley, NBC news, 1 Apr. 2026
One objection in the White House, according to a person who works on pardons, may have been Ver’s flamboyant rejection of his American citizenship.
—Avi Asher-Schapiro, ProPublica, 24 Mar. 2026
Not everyone who posts will end up behind bars and many cases end with pardons.
—Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 12 Mar. 2026
About 15 of the 22 people on the list had sought pardons, and six were engaged in litigation, the official said.
—Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 11 Mar. 2026
Lawsuits help felons get their guns back A majority of the 22 individuals named in February by the attorney general had their rights restored after applying for full pardons at the department.
—Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
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
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 Cuban government said the mass pardons are this year's second prisoner release.
—Joe Walsh, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
The Cuban Embassy in Washington said authorities granted pardons to 2,010 inmates under provisions of the country’s constitution, citing factors such as good behavior, time already served and health conditions.
—Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 3 Apr. 2026
Prosecutors were stymied in their efforts to find a criminal case in President Joe Biden’s use of an autopen to grant pardons.
—Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2026
And the punishment must be carried out within 90 days of sentencing without any possibility for pardons or commutations.
—Matt Bradley, NBC news, 1 Apr. 2026
One objection in the White House, according to a person who works on pardons, may have been Ver’s flamboyant rejection of his American citizenship.
—Avi Asher-Schapiro, ProPublica, 24 Mar. 2026
Not everyone who posts will end up behind bars and many cases end with pardons.
—Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 12 Mar. 2026
About 15 of the 22 people on the list had sought pardons, and six were engaged in litigation, the official said.
—Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 11 Mar. 2026
Lawsuits help felons get their guns back A majority of the 22 individuals named in February by the attorney general had their rights restored after applying for full pardons at the department.
—Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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
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
-
Mass amnesties to mark holidays are not unusual in Myanmar.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Mar. 2026
-
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
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
-
Today’s anything-goes, zero-sum war for attention ignores the lessons learned in the Golden Age of advertising in the 1960s, when brands were sold with thoughtful, artistic, wise and playful takes on the human condition.—
Bruce Stockler,
Fortune,
5 Apr. 2026
-
His inept Cabinet ignores, and actually encourages, his very weird and embarrassing meandering.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Hanson’s home is a quick golf-ride to the clubhouse and overlooks the driving range, as well as the first hole.—
David Caraccio,
Sacbee.com,
11 Apr. 2026
-
But Wiener—and, indeed, self-preferencing’s opponents in general—overlooks basic facts of the digital economy and, to justify his sweeping regulatory proposals, attaches ominous labels to ordinary conduct.—
David B Mcgarry,
Oc Register,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pardons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pardons. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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