as in pardon
a setting free from a charge of wrongdoing
the accused refused a plea bargain, asserting that he was innocent and would settle for nothing less than complete exoneration
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Recent Examples of exoneration
Three men were wrongfully convicted of Fusco’s murder in 1986, and spent around 18 years in prison before advanced DNA testing led to their exoneration.
—
Alia Shoaib, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
His family and supporters are hoping the deportation order will be waived in light of Vedam's exoneration and wrongful imprisonment, as well as his work while in prison to improve his own life and the lives of other prisoners.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 15 Oct. 2025
Now, after his exoneration, ICE has revived the decades-old order.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 11 Oct. 2025
The findings also effectively means the exoneration of four teenage boys initially implicated in the killings in 1999, two of whom confessed.
—Jean Casarez, CNN Money, 5 Oct. 2025
Despite the exoneration, the battle wasn’t over.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2025
Since her exoneration, Knox has become a respected author of three books, a journalist, activist, and podcaster.
—Dana Feldman, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
And the sweeping set of criminal charges and civil judgments that once threatened his fortune and freedom are crumbling in appellate courts — a trajectory some experts say could lead to total exoneration.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 26 Aug. 2025
False confessions were found in 13% of exonerations.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2025
Alia Shoaib, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
His family and supporters are hoping the deportation order will be waived in light of Vedam's exoneration and wrongful imprisonment, as well as his work while in prison to improve his own life and the lives of other prisoners.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 15 Oct. 2025
Now, after his exoneration, ICE has revived the decades-old order.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 11 Oct. 2025
The findings also effectively means the exoneration of four teenage boys initially implicated in the killings in 1999, two of whom confessed.
—Jean Casarez, CNN Money, 5 Oct. 2025
Despite the exoneration, the battle wasn’t over.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2025
Since her exoneration, Knox has become a respected author of three books, a journalist, activist, and podcaster.
—Dana Feldman, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
And the sweeping set of criminal charges and civil judgments that once threatened his fortune and freedom are crumbling in appellate courts — a trajectory some experts say could lead to total exoneration.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 26 Aug. 2025
False confessions were found in 13% of exonerations.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exoneration
Noun
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Here, there was a consensus across the political spectrum, with 88% of Democrats, 86% of Republicans and 85% of independents opposing a pardon.—
Brendan Rascius,
Miami Herald,
29 Oct. 2025
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Even House Speaker Mike Johnson, who otherwise has humored Trump at every turn, has expressed revulsion at the idea of a pardon.—
Robin Abcarian,
Mercury News,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The agreement may allow more of those borrowers to qualify for forgiveness.—
Annie Nova,
CNBC,
27 Oct. 2025
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The view count was still climbing when Malone drove a few towns over and shot himself in the head in the front seat of his Dodge Challenger, leaving a note to his wife and young children asking for their forgiveness.—
Daniel Kolitz,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Defenseman Sam Dickinson kept the puck in the Islanders’ zone after a clearing attempt with his hand and sent the puck into the corner.—
Curtis Pashelka,
Mercury News,
22 Oct. 2025
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The clearing of trees on the south grounds and other site preparation work for the construction started in September.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Though Combs’ defense argued that his acquittals on the most serious charges precluded the court from considering the women’s claims of coercion, Judge Arun Subramanian said the women’s claims of violence and exploitation were major factors in the prison sentence of four years and two months.—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
20 Oct. 2025
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Most famously, the law led to the 2013 acquittal of a white man named George Zimmerman, who shot unarmed Black 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.—
Olivia B. Waxman,
Time,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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His most ambitious series to date, Pluribus can be seen as a corrective of sorts—a grand, artful, mind-bendingly philosophical, darkly funny, sometimes heartbreaking, but consistently humane vindication of our fractious species.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
27 Oct. 2025
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But so far, Jones should feel major vindication for giving Schottenheimer the gig, because Schottenheimer is coaxing the best football out of quarterback Dak Prescott.—
Lawrence Dow,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Exoneration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exoneration. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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