the benefit of the doubt
noun phrase
: the state of accepting something/someone as honest or deserving of trust even though there are doubts
He might be lying, but we have to give him the benefit of the doubt and accept what he says for now.
Examples of the benefit of the doubt in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Oats probably deserves the benefit of the doubt, but this appears to be a drop-off in talent from his last two rosters.
—
Cj Moore, New York Times, 2 June 2025
Catherine tries again and again to give Isabella the benefit of the doubt, to interpret Isabella’s acts of inconsiderateness in the most forgiving light.
—Adelle Waldman, New Yorker, 31 May 2025
Political players are hesitant to give the benefit of the doubt to potentially dangerous groups, and the new government in Syria doesn’t exactly have clean hands.
—Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 30 May 2025
Pretty Bad’ Of course, some responses gave the DoorDash driver the benefit of the doubt.
—Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for the benefit of the doubt
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Cj Moore, New York Times, 2 June 2025
Catherine tries again and again to give Isabella the benefit of the doubt, to interpret Isabella’s acts of inconsiderateness in the most forgiving light.
—Adelle Waldman, New Yorker, 31 May 2025
Political players are hesitant to give the benefit of the doubt to potentially dangerous groups, and the new government in Syria doesn’t exactly have clean hands.
—Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 30 May 2025
Pretty Bad’ Of course, some responses gave the DoorDash driver the benefit of the doubt.
—Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for the benefit of the doubt
Cite this Entry
“The benefit of the doubt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20benefit%20of%20the%20doubt. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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