forgiving
adjective
for·giv·ing
fər-ˈgi-viŋ 
fȯr-
1
: willing or able to forgive
2
: allowing room for error or weakness
designed to be a forgiving tennis racquet
forgivingly
adverb
forgivingness
noun
Examples of forgiving in a Sentence
a person with a forgiving nature
Recent Examples on the Web
Prosecutors were less forgiving of McIver, who was filmed clashing with officers.
—
Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 20 May 2025
The feather-light fabric feels like silk, but, unlike the fragile material, these pants are a lot more forgiving, packable, and cost-effective.
—Isis Briones, Travel + Leisure, 17 May 2025
Now 28 years old, Dickinson joins an emerging generation of British filmmakers who came of age against the U.K. government’s punishing austerity program of the 2010s onward, with its accompanying reduction in welfare and social services, and aren’t inclined toward a forgiving view.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 19 May 2025
But that would be too easy — and far too forgiving.
—Jack Hill, Baltimore Sun, 17 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for forgiving
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 20 May 2025
The feather-light fabric feels like silk, but, unlike the fragile material, these pants are a lot more forgiving, packable, and cost-effective.
—Isis Briones, Travel + Leisure, 17 May 2025
Now 28 years old, Dickinson joins an emerging generation of British filmmakers who came of age against the U.K. government’s punishing austerity program of the 2010s onward, with its accompanying reduction in welfare and social services, and aren’t inclined toward a forgiving view.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 19 May 2025
But that would be too easy — and far too forgiving.
—Jack Hill, Baltimore Sun, 17 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for forgiving
Cite this Entry
“Forgiving.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forgiving. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share