| Main Entry: | |
| 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: | bypass |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | avoid |
| Synonyms: | blink at, burke, circumnavigate, circumvent, depart from, detour, deviate from, finesse, get around, go around, go around the barn, ignore, let go, neglect, omit, outflank, pass around, sidestep, skirt, take back road, wink at |
| 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: | coquet |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | tease |
| Synonyms: | dally, flirt, fool, gold-dig, lead on, make eyes at, operate, philander, string along, titillate, toy, trifle, vamp, wanton, wink at |
| Antonyms: | be shy |
| Main Entry: | disregard |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | ignore; make light of |
| Synonyms: | blink at, brush aside, brush away, brush off, cold-shoulder, contemn, despise, discount, disdain, disobey, disparage, fail, forget, have no use for, laugh off, leave out of account, let go, let off easy, let pass, live with, look the other way, miss, neglect, omit, overlook, overpass, pass over, pay no attention to, pay no heed to, pay no mind, pooh-pooh, scorn, shut eyes to, slight, snub, take no notice of, tune out, turn a blind eye, turn a deaf ear, vilipend, wink at |
| Notes: | ignore is properly used of things that are present in our surroundings; but for things like rules, conventions, stipulations, contracts, the right word is disregard |
| Antonyms: | attend, esteem, note, pay attention, regard, respect |
| 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: | flirt |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | make advances toward someone |
| Synonyms: | banter, bat eyes at, come hither, come on, coquet, dally, disport, eyeball, fool, gam, hit on, lead on, linger with, make a move, make a pass, ogle, philander, pick up*, pitch*, proposition, tease, wink at |
| Antonyms: | be faithful |
| 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: | overlook |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | make allowances for |
| Synonyms: | bear with, blink at, condone, disregard, excuse, forgive, go along with, grin and bear it, handle, ignore, let bygones be bygones, let go, let pass, live with, look the other way, pay no mind, play past, put up with, roll with punches, stand for, stomach, swim with the tide, take, tune out, turn blind eye to, whitewash, wink at, wipe slate clean |
| Notes: | overlook (verb) means to look past or fail to notice, while oversee (verb) means to watch and direct |
| Antonyms: | deny, prevent, refuse, veto |