Word: condone (verb)

Associations

The word "condone" means to accept or allow behavior that is wrong or morally bad, often without criticizing it. It is used when someone overlooks or ignores a fault or a mistake, sometimes implying forgiveness or tolerance.

• Example 1: "The teacher does not condone cheating on exams." Here, the teacher does not accept cheating.
• Example 2: "Parents should not condone bad behavior in children." This means parents should not allow or accept bad behavior.
• Example 3: "The company was criticized for condoning unsafe working conditions." This means the company allowed or ignored unsafe conditions.

Synonym: "forgive" — but "condone" often means allowing or ignoring something bad, while "forgive" means letting go of anger or resentment.

Substitution

Other words or phrases you can use instead of "condone" depending on context:

• tolerate (means to accept something unpleasant without changing it)
• overlook (means to ignore a fault or mistake, often accidentally)
• excuse (means to forgive or justify behavior) Each word changes the meaning slightly. For example, "tolerate" can be more neutral, "excuse" can imply justification, and "overlook" can mean missing something by accident.

Deconstruction

"Condone" comes from Latin "condonare," where "con-" means "together" or "completely," and "donare" means "to give." So originally it meant "to give completely" or "to forgive." The word evolved to mean allowing or accepting something bad.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a situation where someone might condone bad behavior? How would that affect others?
• Is it always bad to condone something, or can it sometimes be helpful or necessary?
• Have you ever been in a situation where someone condoned your mistake? How did it make you feel?