forgiving

[fer-giv-ing]

See more synonyms for forgiving on Thesaurus.com

adjective

disposed to forgive; indicating forgiveness: a forgiving soul; a forgiving smile.
tolerant: The mountain is not forgiving of inexperienced climbers.

Origin of forgiving

First recorded in 1680–90; forgive + -ing²

Related formsfor·giv·ing·ly, adverbfor·giv·ing·ness, nounnon·for·giv·ing, adjective

forgive

[fer-giv]

verb (used with object), for·gave, for·giv·en, for·giv·ing.

to grant pardon for or remission of (an offense, debt, etc.); absolve.
to give up all claim on account of; remit (a debt, obligation, etc.).
to grant pardon to (a person).
to cease to feel resentment against: to forgive one's enemies.
to cancel an indebtedness or liability of: to forgive the interest owed on a loan.

verb (used without object), for·gave, for·giv·en, for·giv·ing.

to pardon an offense or an offender.

Origin of forgive

before 900; for- + give; replacing Middle English foryiven, Old English forgiefan

Related formsfor·giv·a·ble, adjectivefor·giv·er, nounhalf-for·giv·en, adjectivepre·for·give, verb (used with object) pre·for·gave, pre·for·giv·en, pre·for·giv·ing.un·for·giv·a·ble, adjectiveun·for·giv·a·ble·ness, nounun·for·giv·a·bly, adverbun·for·giv·en, adjective

Can be confusedcommute forgive pardon (see synonym study at pardon)

Synonyms for forgive

See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com

1. See excuse. 3. absolve, acquit.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for forgiving

lenient, merciful, magnanimous, accepting, kind

Examples from the Web for forgiving

Contemporary Examples of forgiving

Don himself was bottomlessly generous and vulnerable and forgiving.
Don Carpenter Was a Novelist Both Lacerating and Forgiving
Louis B. Jones
July 14, 2014
In Miami we sometimes played baseball using a big orange basketball, which sure was easy to hit but not so forgiving.
Dealing With Dad the Dealer
Tony Doukopil
April 9, 2014
He is counting on his opponents to overplay their hand, and a forgiving public to let him do his job as governor.
Clinton and Christie: Let The Mud-Slinging Start
Eleanor Clift
January 22, 2014
How could we be as good—as forgiving or as a noble—as Mandela?
Mandela: The Last Good Man
Mark Gevisser
December 5, 2013
There is no forgiving in Egypt right now, and no forgetting.
In Egypt’s Countryside, Vendettas Between Police and Islamists Simmer
Mike Giglio, Christopher Dickey
October 28, 2013

Historical Examples of forgiving

Are none to be gentle and kind, none to be piteous and forgiving?
The White Company
Arthur Conan Doyle
He has suffered too much at my hands to be in a forgiving mood.
In the Midst of Alarms
Robert Barr
Forgiving does not mean forgetting—at least, it does not with me.
My Double Life
Sarah Bernhardt
Previously she had been forgiving and not seriously offended, even when he had been blind drunk.
L'Assommoir
Emile Zola
He was forgiving and forbearing and kinder than I had any right to expect.
Shavings
Joseph C. Lincoln

British Dictionary definitions for forgiving

forgiving

adjective

willing to forgive; merciful

Derived Formsforgivingly, adverbforgivingness, noun

forgive

verb -gives, -giving, -gave or -given

to cease to blame or hold resentment against (someone or something)
to grant pardon for (a mistake, wrongdoing, etc)
(tr) to free or pardon (someone) from penalty
(tr) to free from the obligation of (a debt, payment, etc)

Derived Formsforgivable, adjectiveforgivably, adverbforgiver, noun

Word Origin for forgive

Old English forgiefan; see for-, give

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for forgiving

adj.

"inclined to forgive," 1680s, from present participle of forgive. Related: Forgivingness.

forgive

Old English forgiefan "give, grant, allow; forgive," also "to give up" and "to give in marriage;" from for- "completely" + giefan "give" (see give).

The modern sense of "to give up desire or power to punish" is from use of the compound as a Germanic loan-translation of Latin perdonare (cf. Old Saxon fargeban, Dutch vergeven, German vergeben, Gothic fragiban; see pardon). Related: Forgave; forgiven; forgiving.