pardons
Officially erases guilt
Pardons is the plural of pardon—official acts releasing someone from punishment for a crime, or more broadly, forgiveness for an offense.
A president or governor grants pardons; a friend pardons a thoughtless remark.
As a verb, pardons is the third-person singular: She pardons every slight.
The phrase pardon me or I beg your pardon excuses minor social breaches or requests repetition.
Formal clearing of charges
- exonerationOfficial clearing of blame
- commutationSubstitution of penalties
- amnestyGroup pardon from authorities
- reprievePostponement of punishment
discharge · release · vindication · immunity · indemnity · quash · overturn · annulment
Releasing resentment toward offenders
- absolutionFormal clearing of guilt
- leniencyMildness in punishment
- mercyCompassion toward offenders
- compassionConcern for others' distress
grace · indulgence · forbearance · benevolence · magnanimity · humanity · kindness · tolerance
Group pardon from authorities
- rehabilitationRecovery from injury/addiction
- restorationReturning something to condition
- reintegrationRestoration to a group
- reconciliationRestoration of friendly relations
immunity · decree · proclamation · prerogative · controversial · Nixon · presidential
Formal clearing of guilt
- redemptionRecovery or moral restoration
- forgivenessReleasing resentment toward offenders
- graceEffortless beauty of motion
- sinViolation of divine law
confession · penance · atonement · salvation · indulgence · reconciliation · contrition · repentance
Offered reason for wrongdoing
- apologyStatement acknowledging wrongdoing
- forgivenessReleasing resentment toward offenders
- overlookMiss or commanding view
- politenessCourteous, respectful conduct
etiquette · interruption · courtesy · manners · transgression · indiscretion · slight · offense
acquittal
Formal clearing of charges
- exonerationOfficial clearing of blame
- commutationSubstitution of penalties
- amnestyGroup pardon from authorities
reprieve · discharge · release · vindication · immunity · indemnity · quash · overturn · annulment · stay
forgiveness
Releasing resentment toward offenders
- absolutionFormal clearing of guilt
- leniencyMildness in punishment
- mercyCompassion toward offenders
compassion · grace · indulgence · forbearance · benevolence · magnanimity · humanity · kindness · tolerance · sympathy
amnesty
Group pardon from authorities
- rehabilitationRecovery from injury/addiction
- restorationReturning something to condition
- reintegrationRestoration to a group
reconciliation · immunity · decree · proclamation · prerogative · controversial · Nixon · presidential
absolution
Formal clearing of guilt
- redemptionRecovery or moral restoration
- forgivenessReleasing resentment toward offenders
- graceEffortless beauty of motion
sin · confession · penance · atonement · salvation · indulgence · reconciliation · contrition · repentance · sacrament
excuse
Offered reason for wrongdoing
- apologyStatement acknowledging wrongdoing
- forgivenessReleasing resentment toward offenders
- overlookMiss or commanding view
politeness · etiquette · interruption · courtesy · manners · transgression · indiscretion · slight · offense
- executive branchexecutive branch, Oval Office, executive power, executive orders, cabinet secretary
- Ford Presidencyexecutive orders, presidential papers, State of the Union, speeches, press conferences
- government powersexecutive power, judicial power, legislative power, war powers, police power
- gubernatorial powersveto power, executive orders, clemency, appointments, executive clemency
- legal recordscourt orders, court decisions, court filings, court rolls, court reports
- presidential recordspresidential libraries, presidential debates, White House tapes, Oval Office tapes, State of the Union
pardonsconvicts
Imprisoned felons
sentences · condemns · prosecutes · indicts · imprisons
- pardon mePolite interruption phrase
- beg your pardonRequest for repetition
- I beg your pardonPolite request for repetition
- pardon my FrenchIdiom excusing crude language
- beg pardonRequest forgiveness or repetition
- beg someone's pardonFormally request forgiveness
pardon, pardoned, pardoning, pardonable, unpardonable, pardonably, pardon my French, unpardonably, pardoner