| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | pardon, often by government |
| Synonyms: | absolution, condonation, dispensation, forgiveness, immunity, reprieve |
| Main Entry: | acquittal |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | declaration removing blame |
| Synonyms: | absolution, acquitting, amnesty, clearance, deliverance, discharge, discharging, dismissal, dismissing, exculpation, exemption, exoneration, freeing, letting off, liberation, pardon, release, releasing, relief from, reprieve, vindication |
| Antonyms: | blame, censure, conviction, denunciation, doom, sentence |
| 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 |
| Notes: | to exculpate is 'to free from accusation or blame' while exonerate is literally 'to free from a burden' |
| Antonyms: | blame, condemn, sentence |
| Main Entry: | forgive |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | stop blame and grant pardon |
| Synonyms: | absolve, accept apology, acquit, allow for, amnesty, bear no malice, bear with, bury the hatchet, clear, commute, condone, dismiss from mind, efface, exculpate, excuse, exempt, exonerate, extenuate, forget, kiss and make up, laugh off, let bygones be bygones, let it go, let off easy, let off, let pass, let up on, make allowance, overlook, palliate, pocket, purge, release, relent, remit, reprieve, respite, spring, think no more of, turn other cheek, wink at, wipe slate clean |
| Antonyms: | accuse, blame, censure, charge, punish |
| Main Entry: | forgiveness |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | pardon; end of blame |
| Synonyms: | absolution, acquittal, amnesty, charity, clemency, compassion, condonation, dispensation, exculpation, exoneration, extenuation, grace, immunity, impunity, indemnity, justification, lenience, lenity, mercy, overlooking, palliation, purgation, quarter, quittance, remission, remittal, reprieve, respite, vindication |
| Antonyms: | accusation, blame, censure, charge, punishment, sentence |
| Main Entry: | immunity |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | privilege, exemption |
| Synonyms: | amnesty, charter, exoneration, franchise, freedom, impunity, indemnity, invulnerability, liberty, license, prerogative, protection, release, resistance, right |
| Notes: | impunity is protection from punishment, just as immunity is protection from disease |
| Antonyms: | defenselessness, responsibility, susceptibility, vulnerability |
| Main Entry: | pardon |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | forgiveness |
| Synonyms: | absolution, acquittal, allowance, amnesty, anchor, clemency, commute, conciliation, condonation, discharge, exculpation, excuse, exoneration, forbearance, freeing, grace, indemnification, indemnity, indulgence, justification, kindness, lifeboat, lifesaver, mercy, release, remission, reprieve, vindication |
| Notes: | a pardon is the act of excusing a mistake or offense; an excuse is an explanation offered to justify or obtain forgiveness |
| Antonyms: | chastisement, condemnation, damning, ostracization, penalty, punishment |
| 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: | remission |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | acquittal, pardon |
| Synonyms: | absolution, amnesty, discharge, excuse, exemption, exoneration, forgiveness, indulgence, mercy, release, reprieve |
| Antonyms: | accusation, blame |