Synonyms for forgiveness
Most common
All synonyms
Noun
Definitions
- n. 1
The action of forgiving.
He begged for forgiveness after being caught stealing from the shop.
Forms
- Plural
- forgivenesses → mercies, pardons, graces, absolutions…
Choose the right word
Grace is favor, kindness, or blessing shown to the undeserving; forgiveness, mercy, and pardon are exercised toward the ill-deserving.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- grace Everybody at the party was charmed with her grace.
- mercy And so God took mercy on her, and gave her a girl.
- pardon I beg your pardon; I didn't quite catch your name.
- absolution The priest read the prayers of absolution over Tom after hearing his confession.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| forgiveness | rising | |
| grace | rising | |
| mercy | rising | |
| pardon | steady | |
| absolution | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 5 letters
- grace1, mercy2
- 6 letters
- pardon2
- 7 letters
- amnesty3
- 8 letters
- syngnome
- 9 letters
- remission3, acquittal3
- 10 letters
- indulgence3, absolution4
- 11 letters
- condonation
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (mercy2 = 2 syllables).