the benefit of the doubt
noun phrase
: the state of accepting something/someone as honest or deserving of trust even though there are doubts
He might be lying, but we have to give him the benefit of the doubt and accept what he says for now.
Examples of the benefit of the doubt in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Lisa disappears during the rest of the date, presumably to go give a man the benefit of the doubt!
—
Ali Barthwell, Vulture, 11 Feb. 2025
If Kansas City gets the benefit of the doubt on another call or two, that narrative is going to reach a fever pitch.
—Owen Hayes, NBC News, 10 Feb. 2025
But those measures, much like the Rooney Rule, have not closed the racial disparities among NFL head coaches and have not stopped white coaches from appearing to be more likely to receive the benefit of the doubt.
—Joseph N. Cooper, The Conversation, 7 Feb. 2025
Greg Maddox got the benefit of the doubt on pitches on the black.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the benefit of the doubt
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Ali Barthwell, Vulture, 11 Feb. 2025
If Kansas City gets the benefit of the doubt on another call or two, that narrative is going to reach a fever pitch.
—Owen Hayes, NBC News, 10 Feb. 2025
But those measures, much like the Rooney Rule, have not closed the racial disparities among NFL head coaches and have not stopped white coaches from appearing to be more likely to receive the benefit of the doubt.
—Joseph N. Cooper, The Conversation, 7 Feb. 2025
Greg Maddox got the benefit of the doubt on pitches on the black.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the benefit of the doubt
Cite this Entry
“The benefit of the doubt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20benefit%20of%20the%20doubt. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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