condone — English Dictionary

Verb

1. To forgive, excuse or overlook (something that is considered morally wrong, offensive, or generally disliked).

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   ‘Then the father has a great fight with his terrible conscience,’ said Munday with granite seriousness. ‘Should he make a row with the police[…]? Or should he say nothing about it and condone brutality for fear of appearing in the newspapers?

2. To allow, accept or permit (something that is considered morally wrong, offensive, or generally disliked).

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   Rule-utilitarianism is unlikely to condone torturing a child, but it does imply that the torturing of a child is less evil if the torturer shares his pleasure with other sadists-perhaps by inviting an audience, or broadcasting it on the Internet.

3. To forgive (marital infidelity or other marital offense).

   Usage

   • Transitive

Verb

1. excuse, overlook, or make allowances for; be lenient with

   Synonyms

   excuse

   Broader terms

   forgive

   Examples

   excuse someone's behavior

   She condoned her husband's occasional infidelities