venial
Minor, not mortal
Venial describes a sin or fault that is minor and forgivable, as opposed to one that is serious or mortal.
The distinction comes from Catholic theology, where venial sins weaken but don't destroy the soul's relationship with God: a venial sin, a venial offense.
More broadly, venial applies to any pardonable mistake or minor transgression: His lateness was venial, given the traffic.
Warranting forgiveness
- forgivableAble to be pardoned
- pardonableWarranting forgiveness
- minorScale with lowered third
- trivialLacking significance or weight
slight · petty · insignificant · tolerable · allowable · permissible · understandable · overlookable
Petty misdeed
- mortalSubject to death
- cardinalOf foremost importance
- absolutionFormal clearing of guilt
- confessionAdmission of wrongdoing
contrition · repentance · sacrament · penitence · catechism · transgression · trespass · atonement
Unwise act or remark
- lapseBrief failure or expiration
- misstepError in action or judgment
- slipMinor error or misstep
- oversightSupervision or inadvertent omission
error · blunder · flaw · weakness · shortcoming · imperfection · failing · infraction
excusable
Warranting forgiveness
- forgivableAble to be pardoned
- pardonableWarranting forgiveness
- minorScale with lowered third
trivial · slight · petty · insignificant · tolerable · allowable · permissible · understandable · overlookable · negligible
peccadillo
Petty misdeed
- mortalSubject to death
- cardinalOf foremost importance
- absolutionFormal clearing of guilt
confession · contrition · repentance · sacrament · penitence · catechism · transgression · trespass · atonement · grace
indiscretion
Unwise act or remark
oversight · error · blunder · flaw · weakness · shortcoming · imperfection · failing · infraction · misdemeanor
venialunforgivable
Cannot be pardoned
unpardonable · inexpiable · inexcusable · indefensible · unjustifiable
- venial sinLesser Catholic transgression