vindicate

verb

ˈvin-də-ˌkāt How to pronounce vindicate (audio)
Definition of vindicatenext
1
as in to acquit
to free from a charge of wrongdoing vowed that the evidence would completely vindicate him

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of vindicate My father countered that tech companies couldn’t be trusted to keep music available, and that in the twenty-first century those who didn’t own their media stood to lose it—a view vindicated by the data disasters of the past decade. —Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2025 Of course, she felt vindicated, but learning what had been growing inside her body left her feeling incredibly overwhelmed. —William Lambers, Newsweek, 9 Mar. 2025 President Donald Trump’s announcement overnight that the United States would immediately halt military aid to Ukraine was welcomed by the Kremlin on Tuesday, and his decision appears to vindicate Putin’s visceral dislike of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. —Keir Simmons, NBC News, 4 Mar. 2025 The outcome vindicated Apple management’s decision to stand behind its diversity commitment even though Trump asked the U.S. Department of Justice to look into whether these types of programs have discriminated against some employees whose race or gender aren’t aligned with the initiative’s goals. —Michael Liedtke, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for vindicate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vindicate
  1. acquit
  2. confirm
  3. verify
  4. argue
Verb
  • Cynthia was convicted at trial of child neglect but acquitted of murder, the Washington Post reported; Dominique pleaded guilty in November to child neglect charges.
    — Lesley Cosme Torres, People.com, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Italy's highest court acquitted the now-37-year-old of murder in 2015.
    — Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 6 Apr. 2025
Definition of acquit
Verb
  • Production on new episodes began in January, with Elordi, Zendaya and Sydney Sweeney among the other cast members confirmed to return.
    — J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 11 Apr. 2025
  • He was pronounced dead by a physician at 6:05 p.m., the South Carolina Department of Corrections confirmed to CBS News.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2025
Definition of confirm
Verb
  • But now, the SSA is changing that policy, which a White House official told CBS MoneyWatch is due to the rollout of anti-fraud software that will be able to identify anomalies and flag potential fraud when people verify their identities over the phones.
    — Anne Marie Drummond Lee, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Applicants must personally provide, at minimum, documents that verify their full legal names, birthdays, Social Security numbers, legal residence and lawful status.
    — Elizabeth Crisp, The Hill, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of verify
Verb
  • Now, perhaps swayed by Trump’s popular vote victory – the first for a Republican candidate in 20 years – many US conservatives appear to have changed their position, arguing the US is more a democracy than a republic.
    — Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2025
  • The states — California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, New York and Wisconsin — said organizations within their states received the grants and argued the terminations violated a federal law that governs the agency rulemaking process.
    — Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of argue

Browse Nearby Words

vindicable
vindicate
vindicated
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Cite this Entry

“Vindicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vindicate. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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