absolution

noun

ˌab-sə-ˈlü-shən How to pronounce absolution (audio)
Definition of absolutionnext
as in forgiveness
release from the guilt or penalty of an offense the jury's verdict of "not guilty" was absolution in the eyes of the law, but the verdict would always be "guilty" in the court of public opinion

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example 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 absolution It is positioned somewhere between an intoxicated confession, a cry for absolution, and a desperate defense. — Literary Hub, 28 May 2026 But absolution—total and final—is an impossible sell. — Steven Gray, Time, 29 Apr. 2026 Believers confess their sins to a priest, receive spiritual guidance and absolution and typically are required to make an act of contrition like saying specific prayers. — Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 16 Apr. 2026 The priest goes with the mestizo, but the man refuses confession and dies without absolution. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for absolution
Recent Examples of Synonyms for absolution
  1. forgiveness
  2. amnesty
  3. pardon
Noun
  • Instead of anger, she’s leaned heavily on her faith to choose forgiveness.
    — Jacob Sisneros, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Along with this came the profound dread that straight white men (like me) felt about saying a single wrong sentence and facing the possibility of permanent exile without forgiveness.
    — Charles Finch, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of forgiveness
Noun
  • If a salary cap and floor are instituted, they could be phased in over a few years and could include amnesty provisions that allow teams to get out of one onerous contract that would otherwise count against the cap, etc.
    — Tim Britton, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Trash pickup this week is following the normal schedule, with the exception that each day is a free amnesty day for bulk pickup to help out people who have had to throw out food that couldn’t be kept refrigerated or frozen.
    — Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of amnesty
Noun
  • One of the eight parole board members who took part in this case, former prosecutor Shontell Walker, was in favor of granting Noling a pardon, according to the board’s recommendation.
    — Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Ocalan and other key PKK figures are excluded from the pardon.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of pardon

Browse Nearby Words

absoluteness
absolution
absolutions
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Absolution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/absolution. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on absolution

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about absolution

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All