VENIAL Synonyms: 33 Similar and Opposite Words

venial

adjective

ˈvē-nē-əl

Definition of venial

as in pardonable

worthy of forgiveness taking the restaurant's menu as a souvenir seems like a venial offense

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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.

Recent Examples of venial But logging off—and returning to the sphere in which people are apt to forgive one another for venial affronts—is no longer an option. — Becca Rothfeld, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2022 And that loyalty has been reciprocated with job security and forgiveness of venial sins. — cleveland, 12 Dec. 2021 The list is long of international companies, and even celebrities, who’ve groveled in apology for sins as venial as recognizing Taiwan. — Kevin T. Dugan, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2021 This is, of course, the day-to-day venial reality for attorneys who don’t prosecute serial killers, and Saul can always extrapolate small crimes into tall tales. — Darren Franich, EW.com, 18 June 2020 Taibbi favors a cynical style evenly applied across the universe of real and perceived journalistic trespasses, challenging a reader to sort mortal from venial. — Ann Marie Lipinski, Washington Post, 18 Oct. 2019 His presence was more difficult to justify than the venial offenses of Spygate or Deflategate. — BostonGlobe.com, 22 Sep. 2019

Recent Examples of Synonyms for venial

Adjective

But in this instance, the breach is entirely pardonable, because these two men, Jun and Arthur, have just gotten married.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Aug. 2025
All this is to say that any excesses of enthusiasm for Friday (and Thursday) might seem pardonable, although each day reached the thermal pinnacle of the 80s.

— Martin Weil, Washington Post, 19 July 2024

Definition of pardonable

Adjective

The purpose of the Correspondents’ Dinner is often misunderstood, an excusable side-effect of the viral clips over the years that show sitting presidents roasting the media (and getting roasted by entertainers in return).

— Kyler Alvord, PEOPLE, 23 July 2026
The rule in your case is that keeping the neighbors up at night is rude, but excusable in the case of unavoidable necessity.

— Judith Martin, Mercury News, 15 July 2026

Definition of excusable

Adjective

Rodriguez turning his brain off for a split second in a game that was long, long over is somewhat forgivable.

— Mark Harris OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Aug. 2026
Strain through a fine-mesh strainer set over a measuring cup, firmly pressing against the solids with the back of a spoon to extract as much flavor as possible (a little tea in the cream is forgivable).

— Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of forgivable

Adjective

The valuation of Fernandez is entirely justifiable within the context of the huge fees paid by several Premier League clubs, and specifically City, for high-level central midfielders this summer.

— Liam Twomey, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
Having lost its attempt to invalidate the FCC’s process for issuing financial penalties, Verizon now wants another chance to argue that the fine itself wasn’t legally justifiable.

— Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of justifiable

Browse Nearby Words

venging

venial

venom

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“Venial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/venial. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of venial

adjective

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