English Synonyms and Antonyms

part of a penalty may be remitted and the remainder inflicted, as where the penalty includes both fine and
imprisonment. To condone is to put aside a recognized offense by some act which restores the offender to
forfeited right or privilege, and is the act of a private individual, without legal formalities. To excuse is to
overlook some slight offense, error, or breach of etiquette; pardon is often used by courtesy in nearly the same
Synonyms and Antonyms, by James Champlin Fernald
212

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sense. A person may speak of excusing or forgiving himself, but not of pardoning himself. Compare
ABSOLVE; PARDON, n.
Antonyms:
castigate, chastise, convict, doom, recompense, sentence, chasten, condemn, correct, punish, scourge, visit.
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PARDON, n.
Synonyms:
absolution, amnesty, forgiveness, oblivion, acquittal, forbearance, mercy, remission.
Acquittal is a release from a charge, after trial, as not guilty. Pardon is a removal of penalty from one who has
been adjudged guilty. Acquittal is by the decision of a court, commonly of a jury; pardon is the act of the
executive. An innocent man may demand acquittal, and need not plead for pardon. Pardon supposes an
offense; yet, as our laws stand, to grant a pardon is sometimes the only way to release one who has been
wrongly convicted. Oblivion, from the Latin, signifies overlooking and virtually forgetting an offense, so that
the offender stands before the law in all respects as if it had never been committed. Amnesty brings the same
idea through the Greek. Pardon affects individuals; amnesty and oblivion are said of great numbers. Pardon is
oftenest applied to the ordinary administration of law; amnesty, to national and military affairs. An amnesty is
issued after war, insurrection, or rebellion; it is often granted by "an act of oblivion," and includes a full
pardon of all offenders who come within its provisions. Absolution is a religious word (compare synonyms
for ABSOLVE). Remission is a discharge from penalty; as, the remission of a fine.
Antonyms:
penalty, punishment, retaliation, retribution, vengeance.
Prepositions:
A pardon to or for the offenders; for all offenses; the pardon of offenders or offenses.
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