VINDICATE Synonyms: 71 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'vindicate' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of vindicate are absolve , acquit , exculpate , and exonerate . While all these words mean "to free from a 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. // her judgment was vindicated

Q: When might 'absolve' be a better fit than 'vindicate'?

Although the words absolve and vindicate have much in common, 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

Q: In what contexts can 'acquit' take the place of 'vindicate'?

The synonyms acquit and vindicate are sometimes interchangeable, but acquit implies a formal decision in one's favor with respect to a definite charge. // voted to acquit the defendant

Q: When could 'exculpate' be used to replace 'vindicate'?

The meanings of exculpate and vindicate largely overlap; however, exculpate implies a clearing from blame or fault often in a matter of small importance. // exculpating himself from the charge of overenthusiasm

Q: When would 'exonerate' be a good substitute for 'vindicate'?

The words exonerate and vindicate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, exonerate implies a complete clearance from an accusation or charge and from any attendant suspicion of blame or guilt. // exonerated by the investigation

vindicate

verb

ˈvin-də-ˌkāt

Definition of vindicate next

as in to acquit

to free from a charge of wrongdoing vowed that the evidence would completely vindicate him

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to confirm

to give evidence or testimony to the truth or factualness of recent discoveries have generally vindicated the physicist's theories

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb vindicate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of vindicate are absolve, acquit, exculpate, and exonerate. While all these words mean "to free from a 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.

her judgment was vindicated

When might absolve be a better fit than vindicate?

Although the words absolve and vindicate have much in common, 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

In what contexts can acquit take the place of vindicate?

The synonyms acquit and vindicate are sometimes interchangeable, but acquit implies a formal decision in one's favor with respect to a definite charge.

voted to acquit the defendant

When could exculpate be used to replace vindicate?

The meanings of exculpate and vindicate largely overlap; however, exculpate implies a clearing from blame or fault often in a matter of small importance.

exculpating himself from the charge of overenthusiasm

When would exonerate be a good substitute for vindicate?

The words exonerate and vindicate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, exonerate implies a complete clearance from an accusation or charge and from any attendant suspicion of blame or guilt.

exonerated by the investigation

Examples Sentences

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Recent Examples of vindicate Einstein was eventually vindicated, but not on the strength of the photoelectric effect alone. —

Charlie Wood, Quanta Magazine, 30 Oct. 2024 With Brat, Charli gives the impression she feels vindicated by doing things her way. —

David Lachapelle, Vulture, 11 Oct. 2024 Admittedly, many of his judgments did not hold up: Mencken had many of the racial prejudices of his time, and his loathing for Franklin D. Roosevelt has not exactly been vindicated by history. —

Ben Jacobs, The Atlantic, 1 Nov. 2024 After becoming the first Charger with back-to-back 100-yard games to start a season, he might be vindicated. —

Elliott Teaford, Orange County Register, 16 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for vindicate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for vindicate

Verb

In another case, a San Francisco jury in September acquitted a Honduran man accused of drug dealing after finding he had been coerced into selling narcotics.

Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 24 Dec. 2024
When the true freshman phenom strained his hamstring Nov. 2 against Georgia, third-string walk-on quarterback Aidan Warner stepped in and acquitted himself well during a 34-20 loss to the No. 2 Bulldogs.

Edgar Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 23 Dec. 2024