unpunishable
Cannot be penalized
Unpunishable describes actions or persons that cannot be punished, whether because no penalty exists, no authority has jurisdiction, or the act falls outside what law or custom can reach.
The crime occurred in international waters, making it effectively unpunishable.
Some wrongs remain unpunishable because they're technically legal: His cruelty was unpunishable but not forgivable.
Beyond legal accountability
- unaccountableNot required to justify
- nonprosecutionRefraining from criminal charges
- immunityProtected from harm
- amnestyGroup pardon from authorities
indemnity · exoneration · acquittal · pardoned · decriminalization · legal loophole · statute of limitations · diplomatic immunity
Regarded as too important to alter
- sanctityQuality of being inviolable
- protectedKept from harm
- safeguardedKept from harm
- untouchableExempt from criticism or harm
sacred · hallowed · inviolability · taboo · forbidden · off-limits · exempt · privileged
Free of wrongdoing
- guiltlessNot at fault
- innocentFree from moral wrong
- faultlessFree from any defect
- sinlessFree from moral wrongdoing
beyond reproach · excusable · justifiable · pardonable · forgivable · venial · exonerated · absolved
Clearing from fault
- acquittalFormal clearing of charges
- vindicationClearance of blame
- dischargeRelease of substance outward
- quittanceRelease from debt
inadmissible · procedural · technicality · dismissed · unenforceable · charges dropped · case closed · insufficient evidence
above the law
Beyond legal accountability
- unaccountableNot required to justify
- nonprosecutionRefraining from criminal charges
- immunityProtected from harm
amnesty · indemnity · exoneration · acquittal · pardoned · decriminalization · legal loophole · statute of limitations · diplomatic immunity · sovereign immunity
sacrosanct
Regarded as too important to alter
- sanctityQuality of being inviolable
- protectedKept from harm
- safeguardedKept from harm
untouchable · sacred · hallowed · inviolability · taboo · forbidden · off-limits · exempt · privileged · sanctioned
blameless
Free of wrongdoing
sinless · beyond reproach · excusable · justifiable · pardonable · forgivable · venial · exonerated · absolved · cleared
exculpation
Clearing from fault
- acquittalFormal clearing of charges
- vindicationClearance of blame
- dischargeRelease of substance outward
quittance · inadmissible · procedural · technicality · dismissed · unenforceable · charges dropped · case closed · insufficient evidence
unpunishablepunishable
Warranting official sanction
actionable · liable · indictable · culpable · prosecutable
punish, penalty, punishment, punishing, penance, penitence, punitive, punishes, impunity