excuse may refer to specific acts especially in social or conventional situations or the person responsible for these.
excuse an interruption
excused them for interrupting
Often the term implies extenuating circumstances.
injustice excuses strong responses
condone implies that one overlooks without censure behavior (such as dishonesty or violence) that involves a serious breach of a moral, ethical, or legal code, and the term may refer to the behavior or to the agent responsible for it.
a society that condones alcohol but not narcotics
pardon implies that one remits a penalty due for an admitted or established offense.
pardon a criminal
forgive implies that one gives up all claim to requital and to resentment or vengeful feelings.
could not forgive their rudeness
Example Sentences
Can you ever forgive me for being so selfish? I've never forgiven myself for the way I treated her. We must ask God to forgive us for our sins. When he feels he's been insulted, he finds it hard to forgive and forget. He finds it hard to forgive an insult. We must ask God to forgive our sins. The government has agreed to forgive some of the debt. See More
Recent Examples on the WebBiden had been under pressure from progressive groups to forgive up to $50,000, but fulfilled a campaign promise of forgiving at least $10,000. Merdie Nzanga, USA TODAY, 7 Sep. 2022 Given a couple of days to forgive the men who have been arrested for the rapes — or be excommunicated from the colony and therefore denied a place in heaven — the women vote on three possible responses: do nothing, stay and fight, or leave. Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2022 In 2020, Reeves vetoed legislation that would have let Jackson forgive at least a portion of the unpaid water bills for poor people. Emily Wagster Pettus, Anchorage Daily News, 2 Sep. 2022 In 2020, Reeves vetoed legislation that would have let Jackson forgive at least a portion of the unpaid water bills for poor people. Emily Wagster Pettus, ajc, 1 Sep. 2022 Biden could forgive $1,000,000 or $1 per borrower—Fox News would react the same way. Julian Epp, The New Republic, 30 Aug. 2022 Biden on Wednesday said his administration would forgive tens of thousands of dollars for individuals earning less than $125,000 a year. Hannah Demissie, ABC News, 27 Aug. 2022 Warren and other progressives, including Representative Ayanna Pressley, were consistent in their calls for Biden to forgive at least $50,000 in student debt per borrower. Jarrell Dillard, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2022 President Joe Biden plans to forgive up to $10,000 − and in some cases up to $20,000 − in debt for Americans who owe money on federal student loans. Morgan Watkins, The Courier-Journal, 25 Aug. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Old English forgifan, from for- + gifan to give