exonerate
verb
ex·on·er·ate ig-ˈzä-nə-ˌrāt 
eg-
exonerated; exonerating
transitive verb
1
: to relieve of a responsibility, obligation, or hardship
2
: to clear from accusation or blame
exoneration
ig-ˌzä-nə-ˈrā-shən
noun eg-
exonerative
ig-ˈzä-nə-ˌrā-tiv
adjective eg-
Did you know?
Where does exonerate come from?
Exonerate comes from the Latin verb exonerare, meaning "to unburden." That verb combines the prefix ex- with onus, meaning "load" or "burden." In its earliest uses, exonerate was applied to physical burdens—a ship, for example, could be exonerated of its cargo when it was unloaded. Later it was used in reference to the freeing of any kind of burden, including blame or charges of wrongdoing.
Synonyms
- absolve
- acquit
- clear
- exculpate
- vindicate
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
the results of the DNA fingerprinting finally exonerated the man, but only after he had wasted 10 years of his life in prison
Recent Examples on the Web So joining me now is Rebecca Brown, the director of policy at the Innocence Project, which works to exonerate people who've been wrongfully convicted. 
NBC News, 4 Sep. 2022 Serra and others walk us through the procedural argument and evidence used to exonerate Lee, but the movie resists becoming a story of their Herculean efforts, with Lee’s exoneration poised to feel like a triumphant climax, a win for the team. K. Austin Collins, Rolling Stone, 22 Aug. 2022 Surveillance footage shared by the police from the first attack showed a man wearing black pants and a black hooded sweatshirt bearing the logo of the Innocence Project, the group that helps exonerate the wrongfully convicted. New York Times, 12 July 2022 And Robert Kennedy was determined to exonerate his cousin. CBS News, 6 Nov. 2021 Abe was very clear that much of his effort was to exonerate the name of his grandfather, who had been labelled a class-A war criminal. Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 9 July 2022 At the same time, Painter pointed out how affording her that recognition might conveniently exonerate those who profited from her exhibitionistic willingness. Heidi Julavits, Vulture, 8 Dec. 2021 But even if Brafman persuaded a New York jury to exonerate his client, Weinstein still faced potential criminal charges in Los Angeles, London, and Dublin. Ken Auletta, The New Yorker, 30 May 2022 Realistically, Cassie would probably be in jail by episode four or at least fired, and the show would shift to a more somber note where Ani (Zosia Mamet) and Max (Deniz Akdeniz) work to exonerate their friend. Harika Manne, refinery29.com, 22 May 2022 See More
NBC News, 4 Sep. 2022 Serra and others walk us through the procedural argument and evidence used to exonerate Lee, but the movie resists becoming a story of their Herculean efforts, with Lee’s exoneration poised to feel like a triumphant climax, a win for the team. K. Austin Collins, Rolling Stone, 22 Aug. 2022 Surveillance footage shared by the police from the first attack showed a man wearing black pants and a black hooded sweatshirt bearing the logo of the Innocence Project, the group that helps exonerate the wrongfully convicted. New York Times, 12 July 2022 And Robert Kennedy was determined to exonerate his cousin. CBS News, 6 Nov. 2021 Abe was very clear that much of his effort was to exonerate the name of his grandfather, who had been labelled a class-A war criminal. Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 9 July 2022 At the same time, Painter pointed out how affording her that recognition might conveniently exonerate those who profited from her exhibitionistic willingness. Heidi Julavits, Vulture, 8 Dec. 2021 But even if Brafman persuaded a New York jury to exonerate his client, Weinstein still faced potential criminal charges in Los Angeles, London, and Dublin. Ken Auletta, The New Yorker, 30 May 2022 Realistically, Cassie would probably be in jail by episode four or at least fired, and the show would shift to a more somber note where Ani (Zosia Mamet) and Max (Deniz Akdeniz) work to exonerate their friend. Harika Manne, refinery29.com, 22 May 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Latin exoneratus, past participle of exonerare to unburden, from ex- + oner-, onus load
First Known Use
1524, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Legal Definition
exonerate
transitive verb
ex·on·er·ate ig-ˈzä-nə-ˌrāt, eg-
exonerated; exonerating
1
: to relieve especially of a charge, obligation, or hardship
2
: to clear from accusation or blame compare acquit, exculpate
exoneration
noun
as in acquittal
a setting free from a charge of wrongdoing the accused refused a plea bargain, asserting that he was innocent and would settle for nothing less than complete exoneration Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- acquittal
- pardon
- forgiveness
- vindication
- exculpation
- clearing
- absolution
- remission
- atonement
- expiation
- condonation
- compurgation
- whitewash
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- conviction
- prosecution
- indictment
- accusation
- impeachment
- incrimination
- condemnation
- arraignment
- denunciation
- censure
- castigation