forgive

verb

fər-ˈgiv How to pronounce forgive (audio)
Definition of forgivenext
1
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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

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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 of forgive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The suit also claims the Biden administration planned to immediately begin forgiving loans once the rule took effect, even though federal law requires a 60-day buffer period after implementation. —Sara Dorn, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024 As a result of the order, the U.S. Department of Education is again barred from forgiving people’s student loans until Schelp has a chance to rule on the case. —Annie Nova, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2024 The purpose of Yom Kippur is to practice forgiving others and repentance for one’s sins against God. —Zach Bradshaw, The Arizona Republic, 2 Oct. 2024 How To Make Buttermilk Our Tips For The Best Apple Cobbler Apple cobbler is a forgiving dessert. —Molly Bolton, Southern Living, 29 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for forgive 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'forgive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Phrases Containing forgive

Thesaurus Entries Near forgive

forgivable

forgive

forgive and forget

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Cite this Entry

“Forgive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forgive. Accessed 18 Oct. 2024.

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More from Merriam-Webster on forgive

Nglish: Translation of forgive for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of forgive for Arabic Speakers

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