| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | acquittal, pardon |
| Synonyms: | absolution, amnesty, discharge, excuse, exemption, exoneration, forgiveness, indulgence, mercy, release, reprieve |
| Antonyms: | accusation, blame |
| Main Entry: | abeyance |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | being inactive or suspended |
| Synonyms: | discontinuation, dormancy, inactivity, intermission, latency, postponement, quiescence, recess, remission, suspension, temporarily deferred, waiting |
| Antonyms: | action, activity, continuance, continuation, operation, renewal, revival |
| Main Entry: | cessation |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | ending |
| Synonyms: | abeyance, arrest, break, break-off, breather, cease, ceasing, close, conclusion, cutoff, desistance, discontinuance, downtime, end, finish, freeze*, grinding halt, halt, halting, hiatus, intermission, interruption, interval, layoff, let-up, pause, recess, remission, respite, rest, screaming halt, standstill, stay, stop, stoppage, suspension, termination, time off, time-out |
| Antonyms: | beginning, commencement, start |
| Main Entry: | delay |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | deferment, interruption |
| Synonyms: | adjournment, bind, check, cooling-off period, cunctation, dawdling, demurral, detention, discontinuation, downtime, filibuster, hangup, hindrance, hold-up, holding, holding pattern, impediment, interval, jam, lag, lingering, logjam, loitering, moratorium, obstruction, postponement, problem, procrastination, prorogation, putting off, remission, reprieve, retardation, retardment, setback, showstopper, stall, stay, stop, stoppage, surcease, suspension, tarrying, tie-up, wait |
| Notes: | various things may cause a delay, but a postponement will result from the action of a person |
| Antonyms: | advance, dispatch, expedition, furtherance, hastening, hurry, rush, speed |
| Main Entry: | discount |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | reduction in cost |
| Synonyms: | abatement, allowance, commission, concession, cut, cut rate, decrease, deduction, depreciation, diminution, drawback, exemption, knock-off, markdown, modification, percentage, premium, qualification, rebate, remission, rollback, salvage, something off, subtraction, tare |
| Antonyms: | increase, mark-up, premium, rise |
| Main Entry: | dispensation |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | permission |
| Synonyms: | exception, exemption, immunity, indulgence, license, privilege, relaxation, relief, remission, reprieve |
| Antonyms: | denial, veto |
| 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: | letup |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | pause |
| Synonyms: | abatement, break, cessation, interval, lapse, lessening, let-up, lull, recess, remission, respite, slackening |
| Antonyms: | continuation |
| 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 |