acquit

behave, conduct, deport, comport, acquit mean to act or to cause oneself to do something in a certain way.

behave may apply to the meeting of a standard of what is proper or decorous.

conduct implies action or behavior that shows the extent of one's power to control or direct oneself.

deport implies behaving so as to show how far one conforms to conventional rules of discipline or propriety.

comport suggests conduct measured by what is expected or required of one in a certain class or position.

acquit applies to action under stress that deserves praise or meets expectations.

exculpate, absolve, exonerate, acquit, vindicate mean to free from a charge.

exculpate implies a clearing from blame or fault often in a matter of small importance.

absolve implies a release either from an obligation that binds the conscience or from the consequences of disobeying the law or committing a sin.

exonerate implies a complete clearance from an accusation or charge and from any attendant suspicion of blame or guilt.

acquit implies a formal decision in one's favor with respect to a definite charge.

vindicate may refer to things as well as persons that have been subjected to critical attack or imputation of guilt, weakness, or folly, and implies a clearing effected by proving the unfairness of such criticism or blame.