FORGIVE Synonyms: 59 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'forgive' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of forgive are condone , excuse , and pardon . While all these words mean "to exact neither punishment nor redress," forgive implies that one gives up all claim to requital and to resentment or vengeful feelings. // could not forgive their rudeness

Q: When is 'condone' a more appropriate choice than 'forgive'?

The words condone and forgive can be used in similar contexts, but condone implies that one overlooks without censure behavior (such as dishonesty or violence) that involves a serious breach of a moral, ethical, or legal code, and the term may refer to the behavior or to the agent responsible for it. // a society that condones alcohol but not narcotics

Q: When might 'excuse' be a better fit than 'forgive'?

In some situations, the words excuse and forgive are roughly equivalent. However, excuse may refer to specific acts especially in social or conventional situations or the person responsible for these. Often the term implies extenuating circumstances. // excuse an interruption // excused them for interrupting // injustice excuses strong responses

Q: When could 'pardon' be used to replace 'forgive'?

While the synonyms pardon and forgive are close in meaning, pardon implies that one remits a penalty due for an admitted or established offense. // pardon a criminal

forgive

verb

fər-ˈgiv

Definition of forgive next

as in to pardon

to cease to have feelings of anger or bitterness toward it is not easy to forgive those who have hurt us

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to ignore

to dismiss as of little importance he has so many good qualities that I guess we can forgive a slight penchant for exaggeration

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb forgive differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of forgive are condone, excuse, and pardon. While all these words mean "to exact neither punishment nor redress," forgive implies that one gives up all claim to requital and to resentment or vengeful feelings.

could not forgive their rudeness

When is condone a more appropriate choice than forgive?

The words condone and forgive can be used in similar contexts, but condone implies that one overlooks without censure behavior (such as dishonesty or violence) that involves a serious breach of a moral, ethical, or legal code, and the term may refer to the behavior or to the agent responsible for it.

a society that condones alcohol but not narcotics

When might excuse be a better fit than forgive?

In some situations, the words excuse and forgive are roughly equivalent. However, excuse may refer to specific acts especially in social or conventional situations or the person responsible for these. Often the term implies extenuating circumstances.

excuse an interruption

excused them for interrupting

injustice excuses strong responses

When could pardon be used to replace forgive?

While the synonyms pardon and forgive are close in meaning, pardon implies that one remits a penalty due for an admitted or established offense.

pardon a criminal

Examples 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 forgive He could be forgiven for wondering where a possible January recall to Stamford Bridge fits into that plan. —

Liam Twomey, The Athletic, 14 Jan. 2025 The Education Department last month withdrew broad plans to forgive loans to borrowers experiencing significant financial hardship as Biden approaches the end of his term. —

Sydney Carruth, NBC News, 13 Jan. 2025 The Biden administration has pushed for student loan relief, including canceling loan debt, although the administration has faced court challenges that have greatly diminished its efforts to forgive student loans. —

Zach Halaschak, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 11 Jan. 2025 Frida and Cristina were apart for about one year, and then Frida forgave Cristina. —

Olivia B. Waxman, TIME, 10 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for forgive

Recent Examples of Synonyms for forgive

Verb

Hegseth has also advocated for pardoning service members accused of war crimes.

— Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 25 Jan. 2025
Trump’s decision to pardon Ulbricht is largely seen as linked to the support he’s received from the libertarian cryptocurrency community, which has long considered the Silk Road creator a martyr.

— Andrew Couts, WIRED, 25 Jan. 2025