exonerate

Advancedzipf 2.61

Pronunciation

/ɪɡˈzɒnəreɪt/(ig-ZON-uh-rayt)

Part of speech

verbformal

Chinese

免除（罪责）；证明无罪

Definition

To absolve someone from blame or guilt, especially after investigation.

Word family

  • exoneration/ɪɡˌzɒnəˈreɪʃən/(n)免罪

Collocations

  • fully exonerated
  • exonerated of charges
  • exonerated by evidence
  • DNA exonerated

Examples

  1. 1.New DNA evidence exonerated the man after he had spent 20 years in prison. (proved innocent)
  2. 2.The investigation exonerated the officer of any wrongdoing. (cleared of blame)

Synonyms

  • acquit/əˈkwɪt/— declare not guilty in court
  • absolve/əbˈzɒlv/— free from guilt, broader
  • vindicate/ˈvɪndɪkeɪt/— prove right after being doubted

Etymology

from Latin "exonerare" — ex- (from) + onus (burden) — to unburden from blame