as in forgiveness
release from the guilt or penalty of an offense
the jury's verdict of "not guilty" was absolution in the eyes of the law, but the verdict would always be "guilty" in the court of public opinion
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of absolution
The condemned received the ministrations of a priest, and had the opportunity to repent and receive absolution.
—
Katrina Gulliver, JSTOR Daily, 13 Mar. 2023
Still, President Joe Biden's unconditional, full absolution of his son is different in one unprecedented way: No commander-in-chief has ever granted clemency to his child, according to experts.
—Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 2 Dec. 2024
The Persistent Realities of Inequities But acknowledgment is not absolution, and ambition is not justice.
—Lenwood V. Long, Sr., Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
Time will tell if that is enough to earn absolution from Leeds fans.
—Nancy Froston, The Athletic, 20 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for absolution
Katrina Gulliver, JSTOR Daily, 13 Mar. 2023
Still, President Joe Biden's unconditional, full absolution of his son is different in one unprecedented way: No commander-in-chief has ever granted clemency to his child, according to experts.
—Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 2 Dec. 2024
The Persistent Realities of Inequities But acknowledgment is not absolution, and ambition is not justice.
—Lenwood V. Long, Sr., Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
Time will tell if that is enough to earn absolution from Leeds fans.
—Nancy Froston, The Athletic, 20 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for absolution
Recent Examples of Synonyms for absolution
Noun
-
Borrowers can now apply for student loan forgiveness through the program at StudentAid.gov.—
Adam S. Minsky,
Forbes.com,
2 Apr. 2025
-
Loan forgiveness is granted after 20 years for undergraduate loans and 25 years for graduate loans.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The men who abducted Paiva were indicted by federal prosecutors in 2014—but they have been protected by an amnesty law, passed as the regime was coming to an end, which has effectively kept the country from reckoning with the savagery of military rule.—
Jon Lee Anderson,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 2025
-
This month, though, Mayor Brandon Johnson has announced an amnesty program wherein all of those penalties have been waived.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
After Trump’s pardons for the January 6th attackers, Thune, speaking to reporters, grappled audibly with his instinct for honesty.—
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
31 Mar. 2025
-
Because of the pardon, Ramos could not order restitution of any kind.—
Ben Geman,
Axios,
28 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Absolution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/absolution. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share