“Condoning” is a verb that means to accept or allow (behavior that is considered morally wrong or offensive) without protest. Here are some synonyms and their analyses:
1. Tolerating
- Meaning: To allow the existence, occurrence, or practice of something without interference or opposition, even though one may not necessarily approve of it. For example, “The school is tolerating the students' minor misbehaviors as long as they don't disrupt the class too much.”
- Usage difference: “Tolerating” is a more general term than “condoning.” It implies a certain level of acceptance, but it doesn't always carry the same connotation of moral judgment as “condoning.” When you tolerate something, you might just be putting up with it because it's not worth the effort to stop it or because there are other factors to consider. Condoning, on the other hand, often implies a more active acceptance of something that is morally or socially wrong. For example, a society might tolerate a certain level of noise from a construction site, but condoning illegal dumping of waste is a more serious matter of moral acceptance.
2. Permitting
- Meaning: To give consent or authorization for something to happen; to make something possible. For example, “The security guard permitted the visitors to enter the building after checking their IDs.”
- Usage difference: “Permitting” focuses on giving official or formal consent. In comparison to “condoning,” it is more about the act of allowing something according to a set of rules or one's own authority. Condoning is more about a moral stance. For example, a landlord might permit a tenant to have a pet, but condoning unethical business practices is a different matter that involves a moral or ethical acceptance.
3. Acquiescing
- Meaning: To accept something reluctantly but without protest. For example, “He acquiesced to the decision of the group, even though he didn't fully agree with it.”
- Usage difference: “Acquiescing” emphasizes a reluctant acceptance. In comparison to “condoning,” it implies a lack of enthusiasm or agreement. Condoning can sometimes suggest a more positive or at least a more passive acceptance of something wrong. For example, a person might acquiesce to a policy change they don't like, but condoning illegal activities requires a more conscious decision to overlook the wrongfulness of the behavior.
4. Overlooking
- Meaning: To fail to notice or consider something, or to pretend not to notice something, especially a fault or an offense. For example, “The manager was overlooking the employees' minor mistakes to boost morale.”
- Usage difference: “Overlooking” has a sense of not paying attention to or choosing not to address a wrong. In comparison to “condoning,” it can be more about ignorance or a deliberate choice not to deal with an issue. Condoning implies a more knowing acceptance of the wrongness of an act. For example, a teacher might overlook a student's one - time forgetfulness about a homework assignment, but condoning cheating is a much more serious moral acceptance of an unethical behavior.