To grant forgiveness to or for

• remit

  1. To transmit (money) in payment.
  2. To refrain from exacting (a tax or penalty, for example); cancel.
  3. To pardon; forgive:

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  1. To transmit (money) in payment.
  2. To refrain from exacting (a tax or penalty, for example); cancel.
  3. To pardon; forgive:

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• pardon

  1. To release (a person) from punishment or disfavor for wrongdoing or a fault:
  2. To allow (an offense or fault) to pass without punishment or disfavor.
  3. To make courteous allowance for; excuse:

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  1. To release (a person) from punishment or disfavor for wrongdoing or a fault:
  2. To allow (an offense or fault) to pass without punishment or disfavor.
  3. To make courteous allowance for; excuse:

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• forgive

  1. To give up resentment against or stop wanting to punish (someone) for an offense or fault; pardon.
  2. To relent in being angry or in wishing to exact punishment for (an offense or fault).
  3. To absolve from payment of (a debt, for example).

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  1. To give up resentment against or stop wanting to punish (someone) for an offense or fault; pardon.
  2. To relent in being angry or in wishing to exact punishment for (an offense or fault).
  3. To absolve from payment of (a debt, for example).

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• condone

  1. To overlook, forgive, or disregard (an offense) without protest or censure.

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  1. To overlook, forgive, or disregard (an offense) without protest or censure.

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To show to be just, right, or valid

• vindicate

  1. To clear of accusation, blame, suspicion, or doubt with supporting arguments or proof:
  2. To defend, maintain, or insist on the recognition of (one's rights, for example).
  3. To demonstrate or prove the value or validity of; justify:

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  1. To clear of accusation, blame, suspicion, or doubt with supporting arguments or proof:
  2. To defend, maintain, or insist on the recognition of (one's rights, for example).
  3. To demonstrate or prove the value or validity of; justify:

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• rationalize

  1. To explain rationally:
  2. To explain or justify (one's behavior) with incorrect reasons or excuses, often without conscious awareness:
  3. To dismiss or minimize the significance of (something) by means of an explanation or excuse:

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  1. To explain rationally:
  2. To explain or justify (one's behavior) with incorrect reasons or excuses, often without conscious awareness:
  3. To dismiss or minimize the significance of (something) by means of an explanation or excuse:

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• justify

  1. To demonstrate or prove to be just, right, or valid:
  2. To free (a human) of the guilt and penalty attached to grievous sin. Used of God.
  3. To demonstrate sufficient legal reason for (an action taken).

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  1. To demonstrate or prove to be just, right, or valid:
  2. To free (a human) of the guilt and penalty attached to grievous sin. Used of God.
  3. To demonstrate sufficient legal reason for (an action taken).

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To free from an obligation or duty

• spare

  1. To refrain from harming, injuring, destroying, or killing:
  2. To leave undamaged or unharmed:
  3. To refrain from denouncing or distressing; treat leniently or with consideration:

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  1. To refrain from harming, injuring, destroying, or killing:
  2. To leave undamaged or unharmed:
  3. To refrain from denouncing or distressing; treat leniently or with consideration:

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• relieve

  1. To cause a lessening or alleviation of:
  2. To make less tedious, monotonous, or unpleasant:
  3. To free from pain, anxiety, or distress:

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  1. To cause a lessening or alleviation of:
  2. To make less tedious, monotonous, or unpleasant:
  3. To free from pain, anxiety, or distress:

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• let off

  1. An escape from punishment.
  2. (engineering) A device for letting off, releasing, or giving forth, as the warp from the cylinder of a loom.
  3. To cause to explode.

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  1. An escape from punishment.
  2. (engineering) A device for letting off, releasing, or giving forth, as the warp from the cylinder of a loom.
  3. To cause to explode.

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• exempt

  1. To free from an obligation, duty, or liability to which others are subject:
  2. To set apart; isolate.
  3. Freed from an obligation, duty, or liability to which others are subject; excused:

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  1. To free from an obligation, duty, or liability to which others are subject:
  2. To set apart; isolate.
  3. Freed from an obligation, duty, or liability to which others are subject; excused:

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• dispense

  1. To give or deal out, especially in parts or portions:
  2. To prepare and give out (medicines).
  3. To administer (laws, for example).

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  1. To give or deal out, especially in parts or portions:
  2. To prepare and give out (medicines).
  3. To administer (laws, for example).

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• discharge

  1. To release, as from confinement, care, or duty:
  2. To let go; empty out:
  3. To pour forth; emit:

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  1. To release, as from confinement, care, or duty:
  2. To let go; empty out:
  3. To pour forth; emit:

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• absolve

  1. To pronounce clear of guilt or blame.
  2. To relieve of a requirement or obligation.
  3. To grant a remission of sin to.

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  1. To pronounce clear of guilt or blame.
  2. To relieve of a requirement or obligation.
  3. To grant a remission of sin to.

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An explanation offered to justify an action or make it better understood

• pretext

  1. A reason or excuse given to hide the real reason for something.

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  1. A reason or excuse given to hide the real reason for something.

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• plea

  1. An earnest request; an appeal:
  2. An excuse; a pretext:
  3. The defendant's answer to a formal criminal charge:

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  1. An earnest request; an appeal:
  2. An excuse; a pretext:
  3. The defendant's answer to a formal criminal charge:

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A statement of acknowledgment expressing regret or asking pardon

• regret

  1. To feel sorry, disappointed, distressed, or remorseful about:
  2. To remember with a feeling of loss or sorrow; mourn:
  3. To feel regret.

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  1. To feel sorry, disappointed, distressed, or remorseful about:
  2. To remember with a feeling of loss or sorrow; mourn:
  3. To feel regret.

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• mea culpa

  1. An acknowledgment of a personal error or fault.

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  1. An acknowledgment of a personal error or fault.

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• apology

  1. An acknowledgment expressing regret or asking pardon for a fault or offense:
  2. A formal justification or defense.
  3. An explanation or excuse:

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  1. An acknowledgment expressing regret or asking pardon for a fault or offense:
  2. A formal justification or defense.
  3. An explanation or excuse:

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The act or an instance of forgiving

• remission

  1. The act of remitting.
  2. A condition or period in which something is remitted.
  3. A lessening of intensity or degree; abatement.

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  1. The act of remitting.
  2. A condition or period in which something is remitted.
  3. A lessening of intensity or degree; abatement.

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• pardon

  1. To release (a person) from punishment or disfavor for wrongdoing or a fault:
  2. To allow (an offense or fault) to pass without punishment or disfavor.
  3. To make courteous allowance for; excuse:

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  1. To release (a person) from punishment or disfavor for wrongdoing or a fault:
  2. To allow (an offense or fault) to pass without punishment or disfavor.
  3. To make courteous allowance for; excuse:

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• forgiveness

  1. The act of forgiving; pardon.

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  1. The act of forgiving; pardon.

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• condonation

  1. The act of condoning, especially the implied forgiveness of an offense by ignoring it.

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  1. The act of condoning, especially the implied forgiveness of an offense by ignoring it.

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• amnesty

  1. A general pardon granted by a government:
  2. To grant a general pardon to.

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  1. A general pardon granted by a government:
  2. To grant a general pardon to.

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• absolution

  1. The act of absolving or the state of being absolved.
  2. The formal remission of sin imparted by a priest, as in the sacrament of penance.

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  1. The act of absolving or the state of being absolved.
  2. The formal remission of sin imparted by a priest, as in the sacrament of penance.

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An explanation

• defense

  1. The act of defending against attack, danger, or injury.
  2. A means or method of defending or protecting.
  3. The act or an instance of defending a championship against a challenger:

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  1. The act of defending against attack, danger, or injury.
  2. A means or method of defending or protecting.
  3. The act or an instance of defending a championship against a challenger:

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• reason

  1. The basis or motive for an action, decision, or conviction:
  2. A declaration made to explain or justify action, decision, or conviction:
  3. A fact or cause that explains why something exists or has occurred:

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  1. The basis or motive for an action, decision, or conviction:
  2. A declaration made to explain or justify action, decision, or conviction:
  3. A fact or cause that explains why something exists or has occurred:

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• apology

  1. An acknowledgment expressing regret or asking pardon for a fault or offense:
  2. A formal justification or defense.
  3. An explanation or excuse:

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  1. An acknowledgment expressing regret or asking pardon for a fault or offense:
  2. A formal justification or defense.
  3. An explanation or excuse:

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A pretended reason

• trick

  1. An act or procedure intended to achieve an end by deceptive or fraudulent means.
  2. A mischievous action; a prank:
  3. A stupid, disgraceful, or childish act:

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  1. An act or procedure intended to achieve an end by deceptive or fraudulent means.
  2. A mischievous action; a prank:
  3. A stupid, disgraceful, or childish act:

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• subterfuge

  1. Deception used to achieve an end:
  2. A deceptive stratagem or device:

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  1. Deception used to achieve an end:
  2. A deceptive stratagem or device:

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• pretext

  1. A reason or excuse given to hide the real reason for something.

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  1. A reason or excuse given to hide the real reason for something.

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