pardon 1 of 2

noun

ˈpär-dᵊn How to pronounce pardon (audio)
Definition of pardonnext
as in forgiveness
release from the guilt or penalty of an offense the criminal is hoping for a presidential pardon

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

pardon

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to forgive
to cease to have feelings of anger or bitterness toward he eventually pardoned his sister after she apologized

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to ignore
to dismiss as of little importance I'm willing to pardon a little sloppiness of dress in such a kind and loving person

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb pardon differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of pardon are condone, excuse, and forgive. While all these words mean "to exact neither punishment nor redress," pardon implies that one remits a penalty due for an admitted or established offense.

pardon a criminal

When is condone a more appropriate choice than pardon?

In some situations, the words condone and pardon are roughly equivalent. However, 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 pardon?

The words excuse and pardon are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 can forgive be used instead of pardon?

The synonyms forgive and pardon are sometimes interchangeable, but forgive implies that one gives up all claim to requital and to resentment or vengeful feelings.

could not forgive their rudeness

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 pardon
Noun
The order granted full pardons to most people convicted of offenses related to the Capitol attack and directed the Justice Department to seek dismissal of pending cases. — Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026 The presidential pardon relieved him of his remaining federal probation obligations. — Sameen Chaudhry, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2026
Verb
His father Charles was pardoned by Trump in 2020 over a 2005 conviction on federal tax evasion charges. — Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026 After losing his reelection bid to Bill Clinton in 1992, Bush issued Christmas Eve pardons to six Reagan administration officials convicted of or facing trials for crimes related to Iran-Contra. — Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pardon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pardon
  1. forgiveness
  2. forgive
  3. ignore
  4. amnesty
  5. overlook
  6. excuse
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
Verb
  • None of this is irreversible, which is precisely why the CDC’s complacency is so hard to forgive.
    — A.J. Russo, Baltimore Sun, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Financial institutions and community partners may also provide down payment assistance programs, including opportunities that can be partially or fully forgiven over time.
    — Patricia Mason, Hartford Courant, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of forgive
Verb
  • The stock that spent two years being ignored by the same investors who loaded up on Hilton and Marriott is now having its moment.
    — Josh Brown,Sean Russo, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Alicia McCalla, 56, a fiction writer who has been doing voice work for five years out of her home in Atlanta, decided to ignore union suggestions and clone her voice.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of ignore
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
Verb
  • Log temples atop the mounds overlooked wide plazas for ball games, ceremonies, and open-air markets.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 27 Aug. 2026
  • For a luxury upgrade, consider the One&Only Cape Town, Cape Town’s premier urban resort with a bar and lounge that directly overlooks Table Mountain.
    — Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of overlook
Verb
  • State lawmakers passed legislation this summer to require school principals to excuse student absences related to private, off-campus religious instruction programs.
    — Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The abuse of women and girls has long been ignored, excused, protected and even turned into profit.
    — Jodi Bondi Norgaard, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of excuse

Browse Nearby Words

parchments
pardon
pardonable
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Cite this Entry

“Pardon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pardon. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pardon

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pardon

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