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
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Recent Examples of absolution
The Saints are coming off of a 51-27 drubbing by Tampa Bay last Sunday and are certainly looking for some absolution from their gridiron sins.
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Chris Morris, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2024
Reagan latched on to something deep in the national psyche—a need for absolution, perhaps, strongly felt in the dour nineteen-seventies.
—Daniel Immerwahr, The New Yorker, 9 Sep. 2024
Jack rings up Babe once more, hoping to convince her to grant him absolution.
—Manuel Betancourt, Vulture, 1 Feb. 2024
There was a strongly confessional element to the TRC’s operation; sinners came to the hearings seeking absolution, and victims came seeking to forgive so they might be liberated from their pain.
—Sisonke Msimang, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2017
See all Example Sentences for absolution 
Chris Morris, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2024
Reagan latched on to something deep in the national psyche—a need for absolution, perhaps, strongly felt in the dour nineteen-seventies.
—Daniel Immerwahr, The New Yorker, 9 Sep. 2024
Jack rings up Babe once more, hoping to convince her to grant him absolution.
—Manuel Betancourt, Vulture, 1 Feb. 2024
There was a strongly confessional element to the TRC’s operation; sinners came to the hearings seeking absolution, and victims came seeking to forgive so they might be liberated from their pain.
—Sisonke Msimang, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2017
See all Example Sentences for absolution
Recent Examples of Synonyms for absolution
Noun
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In October, the department said the Biden administration approved additional forgiveness, bringing the total relief to $175 billion in student debt relief for nearly 5 million borrowers.Rachel Barber, USA TODAY, 9 Dec. 2024
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Shares had rallied in the aftermath of Donald Trump’s election victory, as investors figured the company would benefit from more stringent student loan forgiveness policies expected under Trump.Pia Singh, CNBC, 9 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The bill also would have locked in a provision that the president would not have to close the border until the number of amnesty applicants exceeded a 4-week average of 5000 per day (!).Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 3 Nov. 2024
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Previous Programs Massachusetts offered amnesty to taxpayers nearly a decade ago.Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 24 Sep. 2024
Noun
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The president had previously issued 122 commutations and 21 other pardons.Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports, arkansasonline.com, 13 Dec. 2024
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Accepting a pardon carries with it the suggestion of accepting guilt.Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Absolution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/absolution. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.
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