unforgivable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unforgivable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action or behavior that is considered too serious or wrong to be forgiven. Example: "His betrayal was so severe that it felt unforgivable to her."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"The US government, just as they did with other whistleblowers, immediately and predictably destroyed any possibility of a fair trial at home, openly declaring me guilty of treason and that the disclosure of secret, criminal, and even unconstitutional acts is an unforgivable crime.

The Guardian

The finance minister's refusal to attend last week's dinner for eurozone finance ministers – when the debt-crippled country was so dependent on loans from participants – was unforgivable, she said.

The Guardian

Asked about his famous description of Eurosceptics as "bastards", he remarked ruefully: "What I said was unforgivable".

The Guardian

"Some are clearly from an SNP background but there are a lot more people who think that telling lies is unforgivable".

The Guardian

In April last year, Japan announced its whaling haul from the Southern Ocean was at a record low because of "unforgivable sabotage" by activists from the Sea Shepherd environmental group.

The Guardian

His first, unforgivable mistake was to dismiss haughtily Völler's and Holzhäuser's renewed attempts to secure a more conciliatory end to his international career as "a private initiative" during the winter break when it was anything but.

The Guardian - Sport

Eighteen had been set upon outside by ultras, 10 of those suffered from stab wounds, and another 50-plus had to be bandaged up and repaired after unforgivable moments when the police embarked on what has been described as an "unprovoked military-style attack".

The Guardian - Sport

Not only is there a danger of a genuine disconnect with England's support, the poor old fan, already punished repeatedly for the unforgivable consumer weakness of liking cricket.

The Guardian - Sport

For many last season's failure to qualify for the Champions League was unforgivable, especially at a time when city rivals Inter were enjoying unprecedented domestic success.

The Guardian - Sport

Sunny Hundal is editor of the leftwing blog Liberal Conspiracy and other online magazines Being paid to tweet along to a TV programme is hardly an unforgivable journalistic sin, like plagiarism or writing a Glastonbury diary.

The Guardian - Opinion

The first certainly was, an unforgivable gift; the second, though, was a lovely move.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "unforgivable" when you want to express a strong sense of moral outrage or the impossibility of excusing a particular action or behavior. Ensure the context clearly indicates why the action is deemed so serious.

Common error

Avoid using "unforgivable" for trivial mistakes or minor offenses. Overusing the term can dilute its impact and make your writing sound hyperbolic or insincere. Reserve it for truly serious transgressions.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "unforgivable" primarily functions to describe a noun, indicating that the subject is not capable of being forgiven or excused due to the severity or nature of the action. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adjective "unforgivable" is used to describe something that cannot be forgiven or excused, typically due to its severity or moral implications. Ludwig confirms it is grammatically correct and widely used in various contexts, primarily in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Scientific domains. While alternatives like "inexcusable" and "unpardonable" exist, "unforgivable" carries a strong emotional weight. To avoid misuse, reserve "unforgivable" for truly egregious situations and be mindful of the potential for hyperbole.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inexcusable

Focuses on the lack of justification or reason for the action.

unpardonable

Highlights the inability to grant forgiveness.

indefensible

Emphasizes the lack of any valid defense or argument.

unjustifiable

Indicates that the action cannot be shown to be right or reasonable.

unconscionable

Indicates that the action goes against one's conscience or moral principles.

irreparable

Stresses the inability to repair or fix the damage caused.

egregious

Highlights the exceptionally bad or shocking nature of the action.

reprehensible

Focuses on the blameworthy and censurable aspect of the action.

outrageous

Highlights the shocking and unacceptable nature of the action.

deplorable

Emphasizes the regrettable and lamentable nature of the action.

FAQs

How can I use "unforgivable" in a sentence?

You can use "unforgivable" to describe actions or mistakes that are considered impossible to excuse due to their severity. For instance, "His betrayal was an "unforgivable act"."

What are some alternatives to using "unforgivable"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "inexcusable", "unpardonable", or "indefensible".

Is there a difference between "unforgivable" and "unforgiveable"?

While "unforgivable" and "unforgiveable" are often used interchangeably, "unforgivable" is the more common and preferred spelling. Both words mean not capable of being forgiven.

When is it appropriate to use "unforgivable" over other similar words?

"Unforgivable" is best used when you want to strongly emphasize the moral or ethical wrongness of an action and the severe consequences that follow. It implies that the action is beyond redemption or excuse.