ˌən-ˈpärd-nə-bəl
as in unacceptable
too bad to be excused or justified
regards cruelty to animals as an unpardonable sin
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Recent Examples of unpardonable
Alone in George’s office, Roger commits the unpardonable offense of reading his notebook.
—
Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 20 Feb. 2025
Trump’s explicit threats against the Bidens, and his record of trying to politicize the Justice Department and FBI, almost justify an unpardonable pardon, columnist Jackie Calmes writes.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024
In her small and deeply Catholic community, suicide is an unpardonable sin, so a horrible crime lures her with the promise of escape.
—Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 29 Sep. 2024
As her recent award accolades attest, Zine was a force of nature from first take to last, the conduit through which the viewer experiences the dread, horror, anguish and grief of witnessing her father murdered for the unpardonable sin of speaking his truth.
—Alexander Woo, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 June 2024
Insulting you for complimenting him was unpardonable.
—Nicholas Ivor Martin and Jacobina Martin, oregonlive, 9 Aug. 2023
On their return one, with almost unpardonable stupidity, brought the young woman some sort of information as to the probable fate of her brother.
—K.j. Yossman, Variety, 27 June 2023
To fight it, the unpardonable crime.
—W.h. Auden, The New York Review of Books, 27 May 2021
In a nation whose story emphasizes progress and always moving forward, such a refusal was an unpardonable sin, a punishable lapse.
—Michael T. Bertrand, CNN, 16 Jan. 2023
Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 20 Feb. 2025
Trump’s explicit threats against the Bidens, and his record of trying to politicize the Justice Department and FBI, almost justify an unpardonable pardon, columnist Jackie Calmes writes.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024
In her small and deeply Catholic community, suicide is an unpardonable sin, so a horrible crime lures her with the promise of escape.
—Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 29 Sep. 2024
As her recent award accolades attest, Zine was a force of nature from first take to last, the conduit through which the viewer experiences the dread, horror, anguish and grief of witnessing her father murdered for the unpardonable sin of speaking his truth.
—Alexander Woo, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 June 2024
Insulting you for complimenting him was unpardonable.
—Nicholas Ivor Martin and Jacobina Martin, oregonlive, 9 Aug. 2023
On their return one, with almost unpardonable stupidity, brought the young woman some sort of information as to the probable fate of her brother.
—K.j. Yossman, Variety, 27 June 2023
To fight it, the unpardonable crime.
—W.h. Auden, The New York Review of Books, 27 May 2021
In a nation whose story emphasizes progress and always moving forward, such a refusal was an unpardonable sin, a punishable lapse.
—Michael T. Bertrand, CNN, 16 Jan. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unpardonable
Adjective
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Shapiro told reporters at a news conference on April 16 that regardless of the motivation for the crime, political violence must be condemned as unacceptable in our society.—
Riley Beggin,
USA Today,
18 Apr. 2025
-
Any format that builds in a conflict of interest is unacceptable.—
Robert Greene,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
For anyone who is outside the MAGA bubble, the first and best half of Whipple’s book is a voyage into the unforgivable.—
Fintan O’Toole,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2025
-
Breach of confidence—that is the scarlet sin, the cardinal and unforgivable sin of our fraternal ethos.—
Charles Portis,
Harper's Magazine,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
The sum is that Marlins spending by this owner is an unnecessary and inexcusable disgrace.—
Greg Cote,
Miami Herald,
21 Mar. 2025
-
That shot, intentional and inexcusable, earned Baker-Mazara a flagrant 2 and an ejection with 10:52 left in an eventual 93-91 overtime loss.—
Joe Rexrode,
The Athletic,
15 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The 107 new plaintiffs join 60 other former patients who have accused Brock in lawsuits last year of inappropriate and medically unjustifiable behavior that at times resulted in lasting physical complications.—
Corinne Purtill,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Jan. 2025
-
For many, $449 might be an unjustifiable luxury, but for the Nintendo faithful, these incremental improvements add up to something quite promising indeed.—
James Perkins Mastromarino,
NPR,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Waters’ career has been defined by his fearless — often outrageous — approach to spotlighting LGBTQ+ actors and themes.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2025
-
Amending the Constitution would not happen overnight, but starting the process would most definitely put the spotlight on Trump and the outrageous historical precedents set by those who came before him, which have helped to make our current national crisis not only possible but perhaps inevitable.—
Patrick Eddington,
Oc Register,
20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The 15% rate may be harsh and unwise, but 70% can seem indefensible.—
George Calhoun,
Forbes,
26 Feb. 2025
-
Wielding state power to discriminate against kids is indefensible.—
John W. Dean,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Conservatives and Republicans in Congress continue to claim that the cost of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits is an insupportable burden on America, so benefits need to be cut, though President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to preserve entitlements like Social Security and Medicare.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Jan. 2025
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There are people of goodwill who think the way out of this insupportable situation lies in the fight for equal democratic rights in a single state for everyone living in the territory between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea.—
Michelle Goldberg,
The Mercury News,
14 Mar. 2024
Adjective
-
This was a vicious weaponization of your government.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Apr. 2025
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Shauna may be the vicious Antler Queen now, but Lottie also played a role in Mari’s death.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unpardonable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unpardonable. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
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