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
If Sam is wrong, his journalistic sin is unpardonable.
—
Neal B. Freeman, National Review, 13 May 2025
Attacking innocent citizens, in this case tourists, is utterly appalling and unpardonable.
—Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Apr. 2025
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
Neal B. Freeman, National Review, 13 May 2025
Attacking innocent citizens, in this case tourists, is utterly appalling and unpardonable.
—Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Apr. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unpardonable
Adjective
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The unexpected adverse media campaign that was launched by those who resigned on 24 March 2025 has caused incalculable damage and offers a glimpse of the unacceptable behaviors displayed in private.—
Simon Perry,
People.com,
5 Aug. 2025
-
While Led Zeppelin would have benefited greatly from Reid’s singing, songwriting and distinctive guitar work, being in that barnstorming band would have placed unacceptable artistic restraints on him.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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For a character as proud as Kahn, this may be unforgivable, despite the consolatory Alamo that Hank rolls under the closing garage door.—
Genevieve Koski,
Vulture,
5 Aug. 2025
-
The Manhattan murders are unforgivable, with families now forever impacted because of them.—
Keita Franklin,
New York Daily News,
4 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
There was also another inexcusable error on the bases — which has become a common theme for the Yankees in the second, Paul Goldschmidt popped up to second base with one out and Jazz Chisholm Jr. on first.—
James Oconnell,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 Aug. 2025
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There was also another inexcusable error on the bases — which has become a common theme for this Bomber squad.—
James O'Connell,
New York Daily News,
2 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Claude, valued at $61.5 billion, could cost $80–90 billion with market premiums, unjustifiable when licensing suffices.—
Roomy Khan,
Forbes.com,
3 July 2025
-
Iran says talks now ‘unjustifiable’ The sixth round of U.S.-Iran indirect talks planned for Sunday over Iran ’s nuclear program will not take place, mediator Oman said.—
Jon Gambrell,
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2025
Adjective
-
This game lets fans of telenovelas take on the outrageous characters and melodramatic plot twists to tell memorable stories.—
Rob Wieland,
Forbes.com,
6 Aug. 2025
-
Yes, Trump had already made certain concessions in advance, by preemptively walking back his outrageous opening gambit in the tariff war when markets rebelled against the policy.—
Ross Douthat,
Mercury News,
3 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Expecting Texans to shoulder this burden on their own while the rest of the country stood idly by would be morally indefensible and undermine the idea of our country as a group of states united.—
Colin Pascal,
Baltimore Sun,
26 July 2025
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This is where indefensible personal taste comes in.—
Michael Phillips,
Chicago Tribune,
23 July 2025
Adjective
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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
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Feeling profoundly betrayed and abandoned by David, Rebecca’s loyalty lies with the vicious and conniving Juno, the only family she’s known for the last decade.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
13 Aug. 2025
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Nothing could possibly go wrong with all the vicious alien specimens on board, right?—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
12 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unpardonable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unpardonable. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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