as in pardonable
worthy of forgiveness
taking the restaurant's menu as a souvenir seems like a venial offense
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of venial
But logging off—and returning to the sphere in which people are apt to forgive one another for venial affronts—is no longer an option.
—
Becca Rothfeld, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2022
And that loyalty has been reciprocated with job security and forgiveness of venial sins.
—cleveland, 12 Dec. 2021
The list is long of international companies, and even celebrities, who’ve groveled in apology for sins as venial as recognizing Taiwan.
—Kevin T. Dugan, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2021
This would have encouraged him at sensitive ages and times in his life to seriously think about the distinctions between sins of omission and sins of commission, between white lies and perjury, between venial and mortal sins, and the relationship between knowledge, intention, and guilt.
—Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review, 5 Mar. 2021
This is, of course, the day-to-day venial reality for attorneys who don’t prosecute serial killers, and Saul can always extrapolate small crimes into tall tales.
—Darren Franich, EW.com, 18 June 2020
Taibbi favors a cynical style evenly applied across the universe of real and perceived journalistic trespasses, challenging a reader to sort mortal from venial.
—Ann Marie Lipinski, Washington Post, 18 Oct. 2019
His presence was more difficult to justify than the venial offenses of Spygate or Deflategate.
—BostonGlobe.com, 22 Sep. 2019
Becca Rothfeld, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2022
And that loyalty has been reciprocated with job security and forgiveness of venial sins.
—cleveland, 12 Dec. 2021
The list is long of international companies, and even celebrities, who’ve groveled in apology for sins as venial as recognizing Taiwan.
—Kevin T. Dugan, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2021
This would have encouraged him at sensitive ages and times in his life to seriously think about the distinctions between sins of omission and sins of commission, between white lies and perjury, between venial and mortal sins, and the relationship between knowledge, intention, and guilt.
—Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review, 5 Mar. 2021
This is, of course, the day-to-day venial reality for attorneys who don’t prosecute serial killers, and Saul can always extrapolate small crimes into tall tales.
—Darren Franich, EW.com, 18 June 2020
Taibbi favors a cynical style evenly applied across the universe of real and perceived journalistic trespasses, challenging a reader to sort mortal from venial.
—Ann Marie Lipinski, Washington Post, 18 Oct. 2019
His presence was more difficult to justify than the venial offenses of Spygate or Deflategate.
—BostonGlobe.com, 22 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for venial
Adjective
-
But in this instance, the breach is entirely pardonable, because these two men, Jun and Arthur, have just gotten married.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Aug. 2025
-
All this is to say that any excesses of enthusiasm for Friday (and Thursday) might seem pardonable, although each day reached the thermal pinnacle of the 80s.—
Martin Weil,
Washington Post,
19 July 2024
Adjective
-
The time when teachers gain popularity points for airing local team’s games, and kindly bosses understand that Thursday is an excusable sick day.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Some experts believe there are instances where the practice is excusable.—
Theara Coleman,
TheWeek,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The forgivable loan would reimburse the developer for permit fees and public improvements, including updates to the skyway and public areas, and would not have to be paid back if the project is completed within 42 months, or about three and a half years.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
4 June 2026
-
The plan both helps train entry-level workers to be substance use counselors, case managers and community health workers and also offers zero-interest forgivable loans to workers already in those jobs.—
Paul Sisson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 May 2026
Adjective
-
Paul's insistence that Usyk lost is justifiable.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
-
And there may be perfectly justifiable reasons.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
17 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Venial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/venial. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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