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.
exculpate implies a clearing from blame or fault often in a matter of small importance.
exculpating himself from the charge of overenthusiasm
absolve implies a release either from an obligation that binds the conscience or from the consequences of disobeying the law or committing a sin.
cannot be absolved of blame
exonerate implies a complete clearance from an accusation or charge and from any attendant suspicion of blame or guilt.
exonerated by the investigation
acquit implies a formal decision in one's favor with respect to a definite charge.
voted to acquit the defendant
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.
her judgment was vindicated
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 WebSo 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
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Latin exoneratus, past participle of exonerare to unburden, from ex- + oner-, onus load