vindicated
Cleared of blame
Vindicated means proven right or justified after being doubted, accused, or challenged.
Someone vindicated has been cleared of blame or shown to have been correct all along: The new evidence vindicated her completely.
The word carries a sense of satisfaction—vindication often comes after a period of suffering suspicion or criticism: I felt vindicated when the project succeeded despite everyone's doubts.
Cleared of wrongdoing
- acquittedDeclared legally innocent
- clearedFound not guilty
- absolvedFreed from guilt
- exculpatedCleared of wrongdoing
innocent · blameless · guiltless · wrongful conviction · overturned · appeal · retrial · DNA evidence
Shown to be right
- validatedConfirmed as true or acceptable
- confirmedEstablished as accurate
- substantiatedConfirmed with evidence
- corroboratedConfirmed as true
borne out · demonstrated · verified · authenticated · supported · upheld · legitimized · warranted
Having achieved triumph
- triumphantJoyfully victorious
- prevailedProved stronger ultimately
- overcameDefeated or mastered
- conqueredDefeated and took control
won · success · glory · celebration · jubilation · elation · acclaim · recognition
Morally good, justified
- redeemedExchanged for worth
- honorableHaving high moral standards
- upstandingMorally upright, honest
- principledHaving strong moral beliefs
virtuous · ethical · integrity · character · dignity · respected · rehabilitated · unblemished
exonerated
Cleared of wrongdoing
exculpated · innocent · blameless · guiltless · wrongful conviction · overturned · appeal · retrial · DNA evidence · case dismissed
justified
Shown to be right
- validatedConfirmed as true or acceptable
- confirmedEstablished as accurate
- substantiatedConfirmed with evidence
corroborated · borne out · demonstrated · verified · authenticated · supported · upheld · legitimized · warranted · ratified
victorious
Having achieved triumph
- triumphantJoyfully victorious
- prevailedProved stronger ultimately
- overcameDefeated or mastered
conquered · won · success · glory · celebration · jubilation · elation · acclaim · recognition · redemption
righteous
Morally good, justified
- redeemedExchanged for worth
- honorableHaving high moral standards
- upstandingMorally upright, honest
principled · virtuous · ethical · integrity · character · dignity · respected · rehabilitated · unblemished · untarnished
- verdictsguilty verdict, guilty, not guilty, acquitted, innocent
- blamelessinnocent, guiltless, faultless, blameless, cleared
- freefree, freed, liberated, released, unchained
- accountabilityaccountability, responsibility, accountable, take responsibility, answerability
- innocenceinnocent, innocence, purity, pure, blameless
- restoredrestored, recovered, rebuilt, renewed, revived
vindicatedconvicted
Judged guilty of crime
condemned · guilty · found guilty · incriminated · implicated
vindicateddiscredited
Proven unworthy of trust
disproven · refuted · debunked · wrong · invalidated
vindicateddisgraced
Brought into shame
shamed · dishonored · humiliated · vilified · maligned
vindicate, vindication, vindicating, vindicates, vindicator, vindicators