acquit
Declare not culpable
Acquit means to clear of a criminal charge by verdict: The jury acquitted her of murder.
The word implies formal legal judgment, not merely dropped charges or lack of evidence.
To acquit yourself is to conduct yourself in a particular way, usually well: She acquitted herself admirably under pressure.
Without obstruction or fog
- vindicateClear of wrongdoing
- exculpateClear of blame
- absolveRelease from guilt
- pardonOfficial release from punishment
discharge · dismiss · overturn · quash · annul · reverse · reprieve · clemency
Official court decision
- juryLegal decision-making body
- trialJudicial examination of claims
- not guiltyCleared of charges
- defendantParty facing charges
courtroom · judge · deliberation · testimony · evidence · prosecution · defense · attorney
Manner of behaving
- comportBehave in manner
- behaveAct in acceptable ways
- carry oneselfProject physical presence
- actDeed or performance
bear oneself · demeanor · deportment · distinction · creditably · admirably · composure
Free of wrongdoing
- guiltlessNot at fault
- unblemishedFree from any defect
- untarnishedFree from stain
- faultlessFree from any defect
irreproachable · unimpeachable · cleared · vindicated · clean · honorable · wrongful conviction · exonerated
Freed from a load
- liberatedReleased from confinement
- freedReleased from confinement
- releasedSet free from confinement
- exhaleExpel breath outward
closure · peace · reassurance · solace · respite · second chance · fresh start · restoration
clear
Without obstruction or fog
pardon · discharge · dismiss · overturn · quash · annul · reverse · reprieve · clemency · amnesty
verdict
Official court decision
- juryLegal decision-making body
- trialJudicial examination of claims
- not guiltyCleared of charges
defendant · courtroom · judge · deliberation · testimony · evidence · prosecution · defense · attorney · witness
conduct
Manner of behaving
- comportBehave in manner
- behaveAct in acceptable ways
- carry oneselfProject physical presence
act · bear oneself · demeanor · deportment · distinction · creditably · admirably · composure
blameless
Free of wrongdoing
- guiltlessNot at fault
- unblemishedFree from any defect
- untarnishedFree from stain
faultless · irreproachable · unimpeachable · cleared · vindicated · clean · honorable · wrongful conviction · exonerated · uncharged
unburdened
Freed from a load
exhale · closure · peace · reassurance · solace · respite · second chance · fresh start · restoration · redemption
- judgmentsjudgment call, judge, moral judgment, criticize, value judgment
- legal termstrial, legal, appeal, lawsuit, law
- verdictsguilty verdict, guilty, not guilty, innocent, convicted
- accomplishaccomplish, achieve, complete, do, finish
- Judgment Wordsjudge, assess, evaluate, rate, rank
- unfasteningunfasten, detach, disconnect, unbuckle, unbutton