exculpate

verb

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ex·cul·pate | \ ˈek-(ˌ)skəl-ˌpāt

, (ˌ)ek-ˈskəl-

exculpated; exculpating

Definition of exculpate

transitive verb

: to clear from alleged fault or guilt

Other Words from exculpate Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about exculpate

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Choose the Right Synonym for exculpate

exculpate, absolve, exonerate, acquit, vindicate mean to free from a charge. exculpate implies a clearing from blame or fault often in a matter of small importance. exculpating himself from the charge of overenthusiasm 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 exonerate implies a complete clearance from an accusation or charge and from any attendant suspicion of blame or guilt. exonerated by the investigation acquit implies a formal decision in one's favor with respect to a definite charge. voted to acquit the defendant 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

Did You Know?

You need not take the blame if you're unfamiliar with the origins of "exculpate," but there's a hint in this sentence. The word, which was adopted in the late 17th century from Medieval Latin exculpatus, traces back to the Latin noun culpa, meaning "blame." Some other descendants of "culpa" in English include "culpable" ("meriting condemnation or blame") and "inculpate" ("incriminate"), as well as the considerably rarer "culpatory" ("accusing") and "disculpate" (a synonym of "exculpate"). You may also be familiar with the borrowed Latin phrase mea culpa, which translates directly as "through my fault" and is used in English to mean "a formal acknowledgment of personal fault or error."

Examples of exculpate in a Sentence

The court exculpated him after a thorough investigation. I will present evidence that will exculpate my client.

Recent Examples on the Web The leaking of the above letter, while apparently an attempt to exculpate him, only makes his awareness more apparent. — Stephen Galloway, The Hollywood Reporter, "Bob Weinstein Wants Back Into Hollywood. Here's Why Hollywood Shouldn't Let Him," 24 Oct. 2019 American leaders can indulge in such self-exculpating flights of fancy via a stolid ideological refusal to deny the true implications of a state built on racial power. — Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw, The New Republic, "The Destructive Politics of White Amnesia," 6 Aug. 2019 Now that shift is being used by Republicans to attempt to exculpate Trump and accuse Mueller. — Ephrat Livni, Quartz, "Republicans believe Ken Starr could save Donald Trump," 24 July 2019 In no part of the statement did the official provide any evidence that would exculpate the Saudi government for Khashoggi’s disappearance. — Alex Ward, Vox, "The weekend in the US-Saudi fight over Jamal Khashoggi, explained," 15 Oct. 2018 And that accountability requires more than self-exculpating statements from the cardinals involved. — Tara Isabella Burton, Vox, "A Catholic cardinal has weathered sex abuse allegations for years. Now they’re finally public," 29 July 2018 And, of course, the German military is to be exculpated, as having acted honorably. — Adam Nossiter, New York Times, "Approaching 90, and Still the ‘Devil of the Republic’," 16 Mar. 2018 Nothing — nothing at all — in the Nunes Memo exculpates Donald Trump from charges of obstruction of justice or Paul Manafort, Jared Kushner, Don Jr., or any other staff from charges of criminal conspiracy to collude with the Russians. — Eugene Scott, Washington Post, "Partisanship is shaping people's views on the GOP memo," 2 Feb. 2018 The new e-mail, which came to light because of Brown’s lawsuit, backs up his claims, showing that the prosecutor at the time, Dan Rizzo, was aware of evidence that could exculpate Brown. — Anne Branigin, The Root, "Former Texas Prosecutor Withheld Email that Could Have Prevented Innocent Man from Landing on Death Row: Report," 4 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'exculpate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

13 Nov 2019

Time Traveler for exculpate

The first known use of exculpate was circa 1656

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More Definitions for exculpate

exculpate

verb

English Language Learners Definition of exculpate

formal : to prove that someone is not guilty of doing something wrong

See the full definition for exculpate in the English Language Learners Dictionary

exculpate

transitive verb

ex·cul·pate | \ ˈek-skəl-ˌpāt, ek-ˈskəl-

exculpated; exculpating

Legal Definition of exculpate

: to clear from alleged fault or guilt as time passed, however, the…rule, which barred the admission of other persons' confessions that exculpated the accused, became the subject of increasing criticism — Lilly v. Virginia, 527 U.S. 116 (1999) — compare acquit, exonerate