| Main Entry: | pardon |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | forgive |
Synonyms: |
absolve, accept, acquit, amnesty, blink at, bury the hatchet, clear, condone, discharge, exculpate, excuse, exonerate, free, give absolution, grant amnesty, justify, let off easy, let off, liberate, lifeboat, overlook, release, remit, reprieve, rescue, spring*, suspend charges, tolerate, wink at, wipe slate clean, write off |
| Notes: | a pardon is the act of excusing a mistake or offense; an excuse is an explanation offered to justify or obtain forgiveness |
Antonyms: |
chastise, condemn, damn, ostracize, penalize, punish |
| Main Entry: | pardoned |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | forgiven |
Synonyms: |
acquitted, discharged, excused, exonerated, freed, freed, let off, manumitted, released, reprieved |
Antonyms: |
accused, condemned, convicted |
| Main Entry: | absolve |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | free from responsibility, duty |
Synonyms: |
acquit, bleach, blink at, clear, discharge, exculpate, excuse, exempt, exonerate, forgive, free, go easy on, launder, let off easy, let off the hook, let off, let up on, liberate, lifeboat, loose, pardon, release, relieve, sanitize, set free, spare, spring*, vindicate, whitewash, wink at, wipe it off, wipe the slate clean, write off |
| Notes: | one is absolved of blame or responsibility but is acquitted of a charge, usually a crime |
Antonyms: |
bind, blame, charge, condemn, convict, hold, impeach, incriminate, obligate, punish, sentence |
| Main Entry: | condone |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | make allowance for |
Synonyms: |
buy*, disregard, excuse, forget, forgive, give green light, go along with, ignore, lap up, let it come, let it go by, let pass, look the other way, nod at, okay, overlook, pardon, pass over, remit, wink at |
Antonyms: |
censure, condemn, forbid, not allow, prevent |
| Main Entry: | discharge |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | set free |
Synonyms: |
absolve, acquit, allow to go, clear, disimprison, dismiss, emancipate, exonerate, expel, liberate, loose, loosen, manumit, oust, pardon, release, unbind, unchain, unshackle |
Antonyms: |
detain, hold, imprison, keep |
| Main Entry: | exculpate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | forgive |
Synonyms: |
absolve, acquit, amnesty, clear, condone, discharge, disculpate, dismiss, excuse, exonerate, explain, free, justify, let off, pardon, rationalize, release, remit, vindicate, wipe slate clean |
Antonyms: |
blame, condemn, sentence |
| Main Entry: | excuse |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | forgive, absolve; justify |
Synonyms: |
acquit, alibi, apologize for, appease, bear with, clear, condone, cover, defend, discharge, dispense from, exculpate, exempt, exempt from, exonerate, explain, extenuate, forgive, free, give absolution, grant amnesty, indulge, let go, let off, liberate, make allowances for, mitigate, overlook, pardon, pass over, plead ignorance, pretext, purge, rationalize, release, relieve, remit, reprieve, shrive, shrug off, spare, take rap for, tolerate, vindicate, whitewash, wink at |
| Main Entry: | exonerate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | excuse, clear of responsibility or blame |
Synonyms: |
absolve, acquit, disburden, discharge, dismiss, except, exculpate, exempt, free, justify, let off hook, let off, liberate, pardon, release, relieve, sanitize, vindicate, whitewash, wipe slate clean |
Antonyms: |
accuse, blame, charge, condemn, incarcerate, incriminate, sentence |
| Main Entry: | free |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | liberate, let go |
Synonyms: |
absolve, acquit, bail, bail out, clear, cut loose, deliver, demobilize, discharge, disengage, disenthrall, disimprison, dismiss, emancipate, enfranchise, extricate, let loose, let off the hook, let off, let out, loose, loosen, manumit, pardon, parole, put on the street, ransom, redeem, release, relieve, reprieve, rescue, save, set free, spring*, turn loose, turn out, unbind, uncage, unchain, undo, unfetter, unfix, unleash, untie |
Antonyms: |
confine, enslave, hold, incarcerate, restrain |
| Main Entry: | justify |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | legitimize, substantiate |
Synonyms: |
absolve, acquit, advocate, alibi, answer for, apologize for, approve, argue for, assert, be answerable for, bear out, brief, claim, clear, condone, confirm, contend, cop a plea, countenance, crawl, defend, do justice to, establish, exculpate, excuse, exonerate, explain, favor, legalize, maintain, make allowances, make good, palliate, pardon, plead, rationalize, rebut, show cause, speak in favor, square, stand up for, support, sustain, uphold, validate, verify, vindicate, warrant |