absolve
Free from blame
To absolve is to free someone from blame, guilt, or responsibility.
A court may absolve a defendant of criminal charges; a priest may absolve a penitent of sins through confession.
The word carries a sense of official or formal release: The investigation absolved her of any wrongdoing.
In casual use, people absolve themselves or others of minor failings: Don't think this absolves you from doing the dishes.
Official release from punishment
- mercyCompassion toward offenders
- clemencyMerciful treatment of offenders
- forgiveCease to blame
- excuseOffered reason for wrongdoing
reprieve · amnesty · compassion · leniency · grace · condonation · forbearance · release
Admission of wrongdoing
- penanceSelf-mortification for wrongdoing
- repentanceRemorseful rejection of past wrongs
- atonementCompensation for wrongdoing
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
forgiveness · priest · sin · sacrament · penitent · reconciliation · shriving · expiation
pardon
Official release from punishment
excuse · reprieve · amnesty · compassion · leniency · grace · condonation · forbearance · release · let go
confession
Admission of wrongdoing
- penanceSelf-mortification for wrongdoing
- repentanceRemorseful rejection of past wrongs
- atonementCompensation for wrongdoing
contrition · forgiveness · priest · sin · sacrament · penitent · reconciliation · shriving · expiation · sanctification
acquit
Find not liable
- exonerateClear of wrongdoing
- verdictOfficial court decision
- not guiltyCleared of charges
charges · defendant · trial · acquittal · court · evidence · clear · vindicate · discharge · dismiss
exempt
Not subject to
discharge · liberate · unburden · accountability · obligation · duty · blame · guilt · fault · burden
- forgivenessforgiveness of sins, redemption, mercy, grace, pardon
- judgmentsjudgment call, judge, moral judgment, criticize, value judgment
- worship verbspray, bless, anoint, baptize, consecrate
- unfasteningunfasten, detach, disconnect, unbuckle, unbutton
- absolute ruleUnrestricted governmental power
- absolute powerUnrestricted governmental control
- absolute monarchsRulers with unconstrained authority
- absolute certaintyState of having no doubt
- absolute valueNon-negative distance from zero
- absolute worst
absolute, absolution, absolved, absolving, absolves, absolute zero, absolute power, absolute monarchy, absolute value