redeem oneself
Restore one's honor
To redeem oneself is to restore one's reputation or standing after a failure, mistake, or disgrace.
The phrase implies making amends through subsequent actions: After botching the first presentation, she redeemed herself with a flawless pitch to the board.
The redemption must be earned—you can't redeem yourself by apologizing, only by doing better.
Self-mortification for wrongdoing
- amendsCompensation for wrongdoing
- repentanceRemorseful rejection of past wrongs
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
- remorseGuilt for wrongdoing
expiation · reconciliation · apology · rectify · reform · confession · guilt · sorrow
Official release from punishment
- mercyCompassion toward offenders
- absolutionFormal clearing of guilt
- graceEffortless beauty of motion
- clemencyMerciful treatment of offenders
compassion · reconciliation · second chance · leniency · understanding · empathy · acceptance · restoration
Innate personal worth
- respectRegard with honor
- integrityMoral soundness and consistency
- reputationCollective opinion of someone
- esteemFavorable opinion of worth
pride · virtue · standing · credibility · trustworthiness · good name · righteousness · decency
Regaining what was lost
- rehabilitationRecovery from injury/addiction
- transformationThorough change in form
- renewalMaking current again
- reinventionComplete self-transformation
turnaround · resurgence · rebuilding · second act · bouncing back · fresh start · reclaiming · overcoming
Official clearing of blame
- justificationReason proving rightness
- acquittalFormal clearing of charges
- validationConfirming truth or accuracy
- exculpationClearing from fault
truth revealed · absolved · rehabilitation · confirmation · recognition
penance
Self-mortification for wrongdoing
- amendsCompensation for wrongdoing
- repentanceRemorseful rejection of past wrongs
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
remorse · expiation · reconciliation · apology · rectify · reform · confession · guilt · sorrow · regret
pardon
Official release from punishment
- mercyCompassion toward offenders
- absolutionFormal clearing of guilt
- graceEffortless beauty of motion
clemency · compassion · reconciliation · second chance · leniency · understanding · empathy · acceptance · restoration · clean slate
dignity
Innate personal worth
- respectRegard with honor
- integrityMoral soundness and consistency
- reputationCollective opinion of someone
esteem · pride · virtue · standing · credibility · trustworthiness · good name · righteousness · decency · uprightness
recovery
Regaining what was lost
- rehabilitationRecovery from injury/addiction
- transformationThorough change in form
- renewalMaking current again
reinvention · turnaround · resurgence · rebuilding · second act · bouncing back · fresh start · reclaiming · overcoming · winning back
exoneration
Official clearing of blame
- justificationReason proving rightness
- acquittalFormal clearing of charges
- validationConfirming truth or accuracy
exculpation · truth revealed · absolved · rehabilitation · confirmation · recognition
redeem oneselfgive up
Stop attempting something
abandon hope · surrender · throw in the towel · quit · capitulate
redeem, oneself, self, selves, redeemer, redeemable, redemption, redemptive, unredeemed