Find Antonyms
forgive Antonyms
Opposite of forgive
Because the opposite of forgive shifts with each meaning, the 10 antonyms and opposite words below are separated across 2 exact definitions and ranked by contrast strength.
• verb (Context 1)
To stop feeling angry or resentful toward someone for an offense, flaw, or mistake.
Usage Example
"It took her several months to blame her brother for breaking the family heirloom."
Strongest
blame
resent
condemn
Strong
censure
punish
castigate
• verb (Context 2)
To cancel or absolve someone from having to pay (a financial debt, loan, or obligation).
Usage Example
"The government passed a relief bill to enforce a portion of the student loans held by public service workers."
Strongest
enforce
exact
Strong
collect
demand
Similar words to forgive
Words similar to forgive shift depending on context. Common synonyms include:
cancel
pardon
waive
excuse
write off
remit
absolve
discharge
• Nearby Words
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Antonyms for Forgive. In Wordmom Thesaurus. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/antonyms/forgive