absolved
Cleared of blame
Absolved is the past tense and past participle of absolve, meaning to formally declare someone free from guilt, blame, or responsibility.
A court might find that evidence absolved the defendant of wrongdoing, or an investigation might absolve someone of suspicion.
In religious contexts, a priest absolves a person of sin through confession and penance.
The report absolved the company of any negligence.
She felt absolved of guilt after finally telling the truth.
Formal clearing of charges
- verdictOfficial court decision
- exoneratedCleared of wrongdoing
- clearedFound not guilty
- not guiltyCleared of charges
innocent · vindicated · exculpated · discharged · trial · court · jury · judge
Granted mercy for wrongdoing
- confessionAdmission of wrongdoing
- penanceSelf-mortification for wrongdoing
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
- repentanceRemorseful rejection of past wrongs
atonement · sin · priest · sacrament · penitent · reconciliation · shrift · confessional
Releasing resentment toward offenders
- mercyCompassion toward offenders
- clemencyMerciful treatment of offenders
- compassionConcern for others' distress
- graceEffortless beauty of motion
pardon · redemption · reconciliation · leniency · condonation · overlooking · letting go · making amends
Set free from confinement
- freedReleased from confinement
- unburdenedFreed from a load
- liberatedReleased from confinement
- exemptNot subject to
excused · off the hook · accountability · obligation · duty · liability · blame · guilt-free
Easing of distress
- peaceFreedom from disturbance
- unburdenedFreed from a load
- lightenedMade less heavy
- solaceRelief from distress
comfort · ease · closure · serenity · tranquility · reassurance · healing · moving on
acquittal
Formal clearing of charges
- verdictOfficial court decision
- exoneratedCleared of wrongdoing
- clearedFound not guilty
not guilty · innocent · vindicated · exculpated · discharged · trial · court · jury · judge · defense
forgiven
Granted mercy for wrongdoing
- confessionAdmission of wrongdoing
- penanceSelf-mortification for wrongdoing
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
repentance · atonement · sin · priest · sacrament · penitent · reconciliation · shrift · confessional · last rites
forgiveness
Releasing resentment toward offenders
- mercyCompassion toward offenders
- clemencyMerciful treatment of offenders
- compassionConcern for others' distress
grace · pardon · redemption · reconciliation · leniency · condonation · overlooking · letting go · making amends · second chance
released
Set free from confinement
- freedReleased from confinement
- unburdenedFreed from a load
- liberatedReleased from confinement
exempt · excused · off the hook · accountability · obligation · duty · liability · blame · guilt-free · disencumbered
relief
Easing of distress
- peaceFreedom from disturbance
- unburdenedFreed from a load
- lightenedMade less heavy
solace · comfort · ease · closure · serenity · tranquility · reassurance · healing · moving on · inner peace
- freefree, freed, liberated, released, unchained
- redemptionredemption arc, redeemed, forgiven, saved, moral redemption
- verdictsguilty verdict, guilty, not guilty, acquitted, innocent
- sacred adjectivesdivine, holy, blessed, sacred, sanctified
- blamelessinnocent, guiltless, faultless, blameless, cleared
- accountabilityaccountability, responsibility, accountable, take responsibility, answerability