Synonyms of amnesty

amnesty

noun

ˈam-nə-stē 

as in forgiveness

release from the guilt or penalty of an offense

the president of France traditionally grants amnesty to specially selected prisoners on Bastille Day

Synonyms & Similar Words

• forgiveness
• pardon
• immunity
• parole
• absolution
• remission
• exemption
• remittal
• exoneration
• acquittal
• vindication
• indemnity
• exculpation
• clemency
• leniency
• impunity
• commutation
• condonation
• mercy
• reprieve
• commuting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• punishment
• penalty
• retribution
• conviction
• sentence
• assessment
• charge
• imposition
• fine
• condemnation
• levying
• chastisement
• castigation
• chastening

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of amnesty

Her Mexican mother was naturalized thanks to the 1986 amnesty, but her first husband struggled for years to attain legal status. — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026

If a salary cap and floor are instituted, they could be phased in over a few years and could include amnesty provisions that allow teams to get out of one onerous contract that would otherwise count against the cap, etc. — Tim Britton, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026

Trash pickup this week is following the normal schedule, with the exception that each day is a free amnesty day for bulk pickup to help out people who have had to throw out food that couldn’t be kept refrigerated or frozen. — Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026

Christians required amnesty for hundreds of Lebanese who fled to Israel after the Israeli withdrawal. — ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026