Synonyms for venial
- adjective
Most common
All synonyms
Adjective
1. Forgivable — able to be forgiven; worthy of forgiveness
Definitions
- adj. 1
Able to be forgiven; worthy of forgiveness.
Related words
- Word family
- veniality venialness
Choose the right word
Aside from its technical ecclesiastical use, venial is always understood as marking some fault comparatively slight or trivial. A venial offense is one readily overlooked; a pardonable offense requires more serious consideration, but on deliberation is found to be susceptible of pardon.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- excusable A book is only excusable so far as it teaches something.
- forgivable For me, as a city dweller, it's forgivable.
- minor Since you're a minor, you aren't allowed to enter.
- trivial The conclusion may seem trivial: Esperanto exists.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| venial | steady | |
| excusable | falling | |
| forgivable | rising | |
| pardonable | falling | |
| remissible | steady | |
| minor | falling |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 5 letters
- minor2
- 7 letters
- trivial3
- 9 letters
- excusable4
- 10 letters
- forgivable4, pardonable, remissible
- 11 letters
- justifiable5
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (minor2 = 2 syllables).