unforgiven
Definition
- Adjective:
- Not forgiven: "unforgiven" describes a person or an action that has not been pardoned or absolved of blame, guilt, or resentment by another party.
- Remaining in a state of condemnation: It implies that no mercy or clemency has been granted, and the offense or wrong remains unaddressed in terms of forgiveness.
Usage Examples
- (His errors were not pardoned, causing ongoing tension.)
- (The prisoner had not been absolved of his crime.)
- (The act of betrayal was never pardoned.)
Advanced Usage
"to remain unforgiven": to persist in a state of not being pardoned.
- Despite his apologies, his transgression remained unforgiven by the community. (The community did not grant forgiveness.)
"the unforgiven" (as a noun phrase): a collective term for people who have not been forgiven, often used in literary or philosophical contexts.
- The novel explores the lives of the unforgiven, those cast out by society. (Those who are not pardoned.)
Variants and Related Words
Unforgiving (adj): not inclined to forgive; merciless.
- Her unforgiving nature made reconciliation impossible. (She was unwilling to pardon others.)
Forgiveness (n): the act of pardoning someone for a mistake or offense.
- He sought forgiveness for his harsh words. (He wanted to be pardoned.)
Synonyms
- Unpardoned: not granted a pardon or release from penalty.
- Unabsolved: not freed from guilt or blame.
- Condemned: judged as wrong and not exonerated.
Antonyms
- Forgiven: pardoned and released from blame.
- Absolved: declared free from guilt.
- Exonerated: officially cleared of wrongdoing.
Related Idioms
"bear an unforgiven grudge": to hold resentment that has not been resolved.
- She bore an unforgiven grudge against her brother for decades. (She never pardoned him.)
"leave someone unforgiven": to refuse to pardon someone.
- He left his former partner unforgiven after the betrayal. (He did not grant forgiveness.)