exonerate
Americanverb
-
to clear or absolve from blame or a criminal charge
-
to relieve from an obligation or task; exempt
Related Words
See absolve.
Other Word Forms
- exoneration noun
- exonerative adjective
- exonerator noun
- unexonerative adjective
Etymology
Origin of exonerate
First recorded in 1515–25; late Middle English, from Latin exonerātus (past participle of exonerāre “to unburden, discharge”), equivalent to ex- “out of, from; thoroughly” + oner- (stem of onus ) “a burden” + -ātus past participle suffix; ex- 1, -ate 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Hadley was exonerated by Orange County prosecutors and all charges against her were dismissed.
From Los Angeles Times
He went on at length Friday about being “exonerated” in the FBI’s investigation.
From Washington Post
Pitino was exonerated when the final ruling was handed down from that investigation just before the start of this season, leading to speculation that bigger schools would come calling when Iona’s season ended.
From Seattle Times
Though Frank’s death sentence was commuted, he was killed anyway and, as “Parade” points out, never exonerated.
From New York Times
The result is a wonderfully made film that confronts injustice, exonerating a wrongfully convicted man while changing the face of documentary film forever.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
