| castigate, | chastise, | convict, | doom, | recompense, | sentence, |
| chasten, | condemn, | correct, | punish, | scourge, | visit. |
PARDON, n.
Synonyms:
| absolution, | amnesty, | forgiveness, | oblivion, |
| acquittal, | forbearance, | mercy, | remission. |
Acquittal is a release from a charge, after trial, as not guilty.[263] Pardon is a removal of penalty from one who has been adjudged guilty. Acquittal is by the decision of a court, commonly of a jury; pardon is the act of the executive. An innocent man may demand acquittal, and need not plead for pardon. Pardon supposes an offense; yet, as our laws stand, to grant a pardon is sometimes the only way to release one who has been wrongly convicted. Oblivion, from the Latin, signifies overlooking and virtually forgetting an offense, so that the offender stands before the law in all respects as if it had never been committed. Amnesty brings the same idea through the Greek. Pardon affects individuals; amnesty and oblivion are said of great numbers. Pardon is oftenest applied to the ordinary administration of law; amnesty, to national and military affairs. An amnesty is issued after war, insurrection, or rebellion; it is often granted by "an act of oblivion," and includes a full pardon of all offenders who come within its provisions. Absolution is a religious word (compare synonyms for [ABSOLVE]). Remission is a discharge from penalty; as, the remission of a fine.
Antonyms:
| penalty, | punishment, | retaliation, | retribution, | vengeance. |
Prepositions:
A pardon to or for the offenders; for all offenses; the pardon of offenders or offenses.