exonerate
Declare not guilty
Exonerate means to clear someone of blame or accusation, especially through official finding or evidence: DNA evidence exonerated the wrongly convicted man.
The word implies formal vindication—not just doubt about guilt, but proof of innocence.
It can extend beyond legal contexts: The report exonerated the company of any safety violations.
Find not liable
- not guiltyCleared of charges
- verdictOfficial court decision
- trialJudicial examination of claims
- juryLegal decision-making body
defendant · courtroom · judge · acquittal · defense · testimony · evidence · witness
Release from guilt
- pardonOfficial release from punishment
- forgiveCease to blame
- clemencyMerciful treatment of offenders
- amnestyGroup pardon from authorities
mercy · reprieve · remission · grace · leniency · dispensation · absolution · redemption
Clear of wrongdoing
- justifyProvide adequate grounds for
- substantiateProve something is true
- corroborateConfirm with supporting evidence
- confirmValidate as true
uphold · defend · support · validate · authenticate · legitimize · affirm · evidence
Without payment or restriction
- liberateSet free from captivity
- releaseTo let go
- dischargeRelease of substance outward
- emancipateGrant freedom to
unburden · unbind · unshackle · disentangle · clear · relieve · freed · compensation
Free from moral wrong
- guiltlessNot at fault
- blamelessFree of wrongdoing
- clearedFound not guilty
- unblemishedFree from any defect
unimpeachable · irreproachable · faultless · above suspicion · clean record · untainted · exculpation · miscarriage of justice
acquit
Find not liable
- not guiltyCleared of charges
- verdictOfficial court decision
- trialJudicial examination of claims
jury · defendant · courtroom · judge · acquittal · defense · testimony · evidence · witness · prosecution
absolve
Release from guilt
amnesty · mercy · reprieve · remission · grace · leniency · dispensation · absolution · redemption · deliverance
vindicate
Clear of wrongdoing
- justifyProvide adequate grounds for
- substantiateProve something is true
- corroborateConfirm with supporting evidence
confirm · uphold · defend · support · validate · authenticate · legitimize · affirm · evidence · alibi
free
Without payment or restriction
emancipate · unburden · unbind · unshackle · disentangle · clear · relieve · freed · compensation · reintegration
innocent
Free from moral wrong
unblemished · unimpeachable · irreproachable · faultless · above suspicion · clean record · untainted · exculpation · miscarriage of justice
- forgivenessforgiveness of sins, redemption, absolve, mercy, grace
- judgmentsjudgment call, judge, moral judgment, criticize, value judgment
- defendprotect, shield, guard, block, resist
- exclusionexclude, excluded, rule out, banned, bans
- unfasteningunfasten, detach, disconnect, unbuckle, unbutton
exonerateconvict
Jailed offender after trial
condemn · sentence · incarcerate · imprison · punish
- DNA exonerationFreedom through genetic proof
exoneration, exonerated, exonerating, exonerates, exonerations