| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | relieve of blame, responsibility |
| Synonyms: | abate, absolve, allay, alleviate, amnesty, excuse, forgive, grant a stay, let go, let off, let off the hook, let off this time, let up on, mitigate, palliate, pardon, postpone, remit, respite |
| Antonyms: | accusation, blame |
| 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 |
| Notes: | an alias is an assumed name, an alibi is a form of defense whereby a defendant attempts to prove that he or she was elsewhere when the crime in question was committed, while an excuse is an explanation offered to justify or obtain forgiveness a pardon is the act of excusing a mistake or offense; an excuse is an explanation offered to justify or obtain forgiveness |
| 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: | 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: | 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 |
| Antonyms: | chastise, condemn, damn, ostracize, penalize, punish |
| Main Entry: | pity |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | feel sorry for; spare |
| Synonyms: | ache*, be sorry for, be sympathetic, bleed for, comfort, commiserate, condole, console, feel for, feel with, forgive, give quarter, grant amnesty, grieve with, have compassion, have mercy on, identify with, lament with, pardon, put out of one's misery, relent, reprieve, show forgiveness, show sympathy, solace, soothe, sympathize, take pity on, understand, weep for |
| Antonyms: | disdain, scorn |
| Main Entry: | remit |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | stop, postpone |
| Synonyms: | abate, absolve, alleviate, amnesty, cancel, condone, decrease, defer, delay, desist, diminish, dwindle, ease up, excuse, exonerate, fall away, forbear, forgive, halt, hold off, hold up, intermit, mitigate, moderate, modify, modulate, pardon, prorogue, put off, reduce, relax, release, repeal, reprieve, rescind, respite, shelve, sink, slack, slacken, soften, stay, suspend, wane, weaken |
| Antonyms: | encourage, forge, forward |
| Main Entry: | stay |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | wait |
| Synonyms: | abide, bide, bunk, continue, dally, delay, endure, establish oneself, halt, hang, hang about, hang around, hang in, hang out, hold the fort, hover, lag, last, linger, loiter, nest, outstay, pause, perch, procrastinate, put down roots, remain, reprieve, reside, respite, roost, settle, sit tight, sojourn, squat, stand, stay out, stay put, stick around, stop, sweat it out, sweat*, tarry |
| Antonyms: | advance, go, leave |
| Main Entry: | manumit |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | free |
| 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, liberate, loose, loosen, 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 |