can be forgiven
idiom
—used to say that what a person does or feels is understandable or that a person should not be blamed for doing or feeling something
He can be forgiven for feeling this way after all he's been through.
Examples of can be forgiven in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The military audience managed to pull off that feat, but they can be forgiven for fretting about it in advance.
—
Peter D. Feaver, Foreign Affairs, 1 Oct. 2025
As the fourth member of the nine-woman supergroup to record her own album, Chaeyoung can be forgiven for taking her time with her debut.
—Jae-Ha Kim, Rolling Stone, 12 Sep. 2025
To an extent, the College Board can be forgiven for acceding to student preferences.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 9 Sep. 2025
If every harm is unforgivable, then no one can be forgiven.
—Jonathan Alpert, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for can be forgiven
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Peter D. Feaver, Foreign Affairs, 1 Oct. 2025
As the fourth member of the nine-woman supergroup to record her own album, Chaeyoung can be forgiven for taking her time with her debut.
—Jae-Ha Kim, Rolling Stone, 12 Sep. 2025
To an extent, the College Board can be forgiven for acceding to student preferences.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 9 Sep. 2025
If every harm is unforgivable, then no one can be forgiven.
—Jonathan Alpert, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for can be forgiven
Cite this Entry
“Can be forgiven.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/can%20be%20forgiven. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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