as in excusable
worthy of forgiveness
the new parents' gushing pride was pardonable
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Recent Examples of pardonable
But in this instance, the breach is entirely pardonable, because these two men, Jun and Arthur, have just gotten married.
—
Literary Hub, 15 Aug. 2025
All this is to say that any excesses of enthusiasm for Friday (and Thursday) might seem pardonable, although each day reached the thermal pinnacle of the 80s.
—Martin Weil, Washington Post, 19 July 2024
According to Cohen, because misdemeanor possession of marijuana is now a pardonable offense, Department of Justice guidelines would not permit a plea to that effect.
—Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2024
What happened, then, was surely a result of a pardonable misunderstanding.
—New York Times, 11 Feb. 2020
In this case, to be fair, the length is a pardonable fault, for there is plenty here on which to feast.
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2019
However, no one went hungry, and after a wholly pardonable delay all were accommodated.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2019
But now, without any provocation, and without the justification of reprisal or retaliation, a refusal to outlaw the use of the bomb save in reprisal is making a political purpose of its possession; this is hardly pardonable.
—Rosa Inocencio Smith, The Atlantic, 2 Aug. 2017
Literary Hub, 15 Aug. 2025
All this is to say that any excesses of enthusiasm for Friday (and Thursday) might seem pardonable, although each day reached the thermal pinnacle of the 80s.
—Martin Weil, Washington Post, 19 July 2024
According to Cohen, because misdemeanor possession of marijuana is now a pardonable offense, Department of Justice guidelines would not permit a plea to that effect.
—Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2024
What happened, then, was surely a result of a pardonable misunderstanding.
—New York Times, 11 Feb. 2020
In this case, to be fair, the length is a pardonable fault, for there is plenty here on which to feast.
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2019
However, no one went hungry, and after a wholly pardonable delay all were accommodated.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2019
But now, without any provocation, and without the justification of reprisal or retaliation, a refusal to outlaw the use of the bomb save in reprisal is making a political purpose of its possession; this is hardly pardonable.
—Rosa Inocencio Smith, The Atlantic, 2 Aug. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pardonable
Adjective
-
The time when teachers gain popularity points for airing local team’s games, and kindly bosses understand that Thursday is an excusable sick day.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Some experts believe there are instances where the practice is excusable.—
Theara Coleman,
TheWeek,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The term midlist, in contrast, is reserved for new books for which publication seems economically justifiable but are not otherwise expected to become fast-selling bestsellers, and indeed, most new books end up being on the midlist.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Prosecutors have determined that the police shooting of a man in South San Francisco in December was legally justifiable and no charges will be filed against the involved officers.—
Caelyn Pender,
Mercury News,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Philippas received an additional $750,000 forgivable loan back in 2024 to develop a new Smoque BBQ location across the street from Ovvio at 1132 Waukegan Road.—
Claire Murphy,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
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The project promises to be completed at no cost to Ramirez or his neighbors by using a forgivable loan from the state.—
Sabrina Franza,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
But logging off—and returning to the sphere in which people are apt to forgive one another for venial affronts—is no longer an option.—
Becca Rothfeld,
The New Yorker,
21 Mar. 2022
-
And that loyalty has been reciprocated with job security and forgiveness of venial sins.—
cleveland,
cleveland,
12 Dec. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Pardonable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pardonable. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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