Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense exonerates, present participle exonerating, past tense, past participle exonerated
verb
If a court, report, or person in authority exonerates someone, they officially say or show that that person is not responsible for something wrong or unpleasant that has happened.
[formal]
The official report basically exonerated everyone. [VERB noun]
An investigation exonerated the school from any blame. [VERB noun + from]
Synonyms: acquit, clear, excuse, pardon More Synonyms of exonerate
exoneration (ɪgzɒnəreɪʃən)uncountable noun
They expected complete exoneration for their clients.
Synonyms: acquittal, discharge, amnesty, justification More Synonyms of exonerate
Synonyms: exemption, freeing, release, relief More Synonyms of exonerate
More Synonyms of exonerate
exonerate in British English
(ɪɡˈzɒnəˌreɪt)
verb(transitive)
1.
to clear or absolve from blame or a criminal charge
2.
to relieve from an obligation or task; exempt
Derived forms
exoneration (exˌonerˈation)
noun
exonerative (exˈonerative)
adjective
exonerator (exˈonerˌator)
noun
Word origin
C16: from Latin exonerāre to free from a burden, from onus a burden
exonerate in American English
(ɛgˈzɑnərˌeɪt; ɪgˈzɑnəˌreɪt)
verb transitiveWord forms: exˈonerˌated or exˈonerˌating
1.
to relieve of (a duty, obligation, etc.)
2.
to free from a charge or the imputation of guilt; declare or prove blameless; exculpate
SIMILAR WORDS: abˈsolve
Derived forms
exoneration (exˌonerˈation)
noun
exonerative (exˈonerˌative)
adjective
exonerator (exˈonerˌator)
noun
Word origin
< L exoneratus, pp. of exonerare, to disburden < ex-, out + onerare, to load < onus (gen. oneris), a burden: see onus
Examples of 'exonerate' in a sentence
exonerate
I blame myself one day, I exonerate myself the next, only to curse myself again on the third day.
Aldiss, Brian SOMEWHERE EAST OF LIFE (1991)
Nora wanted to fish about and hook some small and reassuring truth that would exonerate Kennerly and release her from her guilt.
Bringle, Mary DEATH OF AN UNKNOWN MAN (1991)
Beth imparted this piece of information very hastily indeed, anxious as she was to exonerate herself.
Fraser, Christine Marion NOBLE BEGINNNINGS (1991)
And I am certain the Commission of Inquiry will exonerate you in due course.
Armstrong, Campbell MAMBO (1991)
1 (verb)
Definition
to clear (someone) of blame or a criminal charge
The official report exonerated the school of any blame.
Synonyms
acquit
He was acquitted of disorderly behaviour by magistrates.
clear
In a final effort to clear her name, she is writing a book.
excuse
Please excuse me for my late arrival.
pardon
Hundreds of political prisoners were pardoned and released.
justify
This decision was fully justified by economic conditions.
discharge
You are being discharged on medical grounds.
vindicate
The director said he had been vindicated by the expert's report.
absolve
The judicial inquiry absolved the soldiers.
exculpate
2 (verb)
Synonyms
exempt
Companies with fewer than 55 employees would be exempted from these requirements.
free
It will free us of a whole lot of debt.
release
He wants to be released from any promise between us.
except
dismiss
Two more witnesses were called, heard and dismissed.
excuse
She was excused from her duties for the day.
relieve
He felt relieved of a burden.
discharge
liberate
How committed is the leadership to liberating its people from poverty?
let off
Additional synonyms
in the sense of absolve
Definition
to declare to be free from blame or sin
The judicial inquiry absolved the soldiers.
Synonyms
excuse,
free,
clear,
release,
deliver,
loose,
forgive,
discharge,
liberate,
pardon,
exempt,
acquit,
vindicate,
remit,
let off,
set free,
exonerate,
exculpate,
shrive
in the sense of clear
Definition
to prove (someone) innocent of a crime or mistake
In a final effort to clear her name, she is writing a book.