exonerating
Lifting all blame
Exonerating is clearing someone of blame, guilt, or responsibility.
Evidence exonerates a wrongly accused defendant; an investigation exonerates an official of misconduct charges.
The word carries weight—it implies formal vindication, not just casual forgiveness: DNA evidence led to exonerating the man after twenty years in prison.
Clearance of blame
- exculpationClearing from fault
- clearingTreeless space in forest
- absolutionFormal clearing of guilt
- dischargeRelease of substance outward
rehabilitation · justification · corroboration · substantiation · validation · authentication · confirmation · proof
Free of wrongdoing
- guiltlessNot at fault
- clearedFound not guilty
- unblemishedFree from any defect
- vindicatedCleared of accusation
unimpeachable · irreproachable · wrongful conviction · miscarriage of justice · DNA evidence · innocence project · posthumous · overturned
Formal clearing of charges
- verdictOfficial court decision
- trialJudicial examination of claims
- not guiltyCleared of charges
- evidenceFacts supporting truth
testimony · defense · courtroom · jury · witness · alibi · judge · attorney
To let go
- freedomAbsence of constraint
- emancipationRelease from legal bondage
- deliveranceRescue from bondage
- dischargeRelease of substance outward
liberation · extrication · relief · unburdening · restoration · acquittal · clearance
Official release from punishment
- amnestyGroup pardon from authorities
- clemencyMerciful treatment of offenders
- mercyCompassion toward offenders
- reprievePostponement of punishment
forgiveness · grace · remission · absolution · leniency · dispensation · redemption · indulgence
vindication
Clearance of blame
- exculpationClearing from fault
- clearingTreeless space in forest
- absolutionFormal clearing of guilt
discharge · rehabilitation · justification · corroboration · substantiation · validation · authentication · confirmation · proof · verification
blameless
Free of wrongdoing
- guiltlessNot at fault
- clearedFound not guilty
- unblemishedFree from any defect
vindicated · unimpeachable · irreproachable · wrongful conviction · miscarriage of justice · DNA evidence · innocence project · posthumous · overturned
acquittal
Formal clearing of charges
- verdictOfficial court decision
- trialJudicial examination of claims
- not guiltyCleared of charges
evidence · testimony · defense · courtroom · jury · witness · alibi · judge · attorney · prosecution
release
To let go
- freedomAbsence of constraint
- emancipationRelease from legal bondage
- deliveranceRescue from bondage
discharge · liberation · extrication · relief · unburdening · restoration · acquittal · clearance
pardon
Official release from punishment
- amnestyGroup pardon from authorities
- clemencyMerciful treatment of offenders
- mercyCompassion toward offenders
reprieve · forgiveness · grace · remission · absolution · leniency · dispensation · redemption · indulgence · commutation
- forgivenessforgiveness of sins, redemption, absolve, mercy, grace
- Excusingjustifying, forgiving, pardoning, condoning, rationalizing
exoneratingconvicting
Formally declaring guilt
condemning · incriminating · charging · inculpating · accusing
exoneratingblaming
Assigning responsibility for wrongdoing
accusing · condemning · incriminating · inculpating · implicating
- DNA exonerationFreedom through genetic proof