exonerate

verb

ex·​on·​er·​ate ig-ˈzä-nə-ˌrāt 

eg-

exonerated; exonerating

transitive verb

1

: to relieve of a responsibility, obligation, or hardship

2

: to clear from accusation or blame

exoneration

ig-ˌzä-nə-ˈrā-shən 

eg-

noun

exonerative

ig-ˈzä-nə-ˌrā-tiv 

eg-

adjective

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Where does exonerate come from?

Exonerate comes from the Latin verb exonerare, meaning "to unburden." That verb combines the prefix ex- with onus, meaning "load" or "burden." In its earliest uses, exonerate was applied to physical burdens—a ship, for example, could be exonerated of its cargo when it was unloaded. Later it was used in reference to the freeing of any kind of burden, including blame or charges of wrongdoing.

Synonyms of exonerate

• acquit

Choose the Right Synonym for exonerate

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

Examples of exonerate in a Sentence

the results of the DNA fingerprinting finally exonerated the man, but only after he had wasted 10 years of his life in prison

Recent Examples on the Web

Attorney Chris Pixley hosted the two-night event, which pulled from a lengthy petition the Los Angeles Innocence Project (LAIP) filed in 2025, hoping to exonerate Peterson. — Erin Jensen, USA Today, 18 July 2026

He was exonerated in 2021 after DNA evidence and extensive AJC reporting shed new light on a 1985 double homicide near Brunswick. — Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 14 July 2026

Second, Northwestern assigned an ad hoc committee to investigate me; but, after six months of investigation, the committee exonerated me, recommended no punishment and affirmed my right to academic freedom. — Literary Hub, 14 July 2026

After he was exonerated, Dreyfus rejoined the French army and served in World War I. — Masha MacPherson, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin exoneratus, past participle of exonerare to unburden, from ex- + oner-, onus load

First Known Use

1524, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for exonerate

• abbreviate
• accelerate
• accommodate
• accumulate
• acuminate
• adjudicate
• adulterate
• affiliate
• agglomerate
• agglutinate
• alleviate
• amalgamate

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Kids Definition

exonerate

verb

ex·​on·​er·​ate ig-ˈzän-ə-ˌrāt 

exonerated; exonerating

: to clear from a charge of wrongdoing or from blame : declare innocent

exoneration

ig-ˌzän-ə-ˈrā-shən 

noun

Legal Definition

exonerate

transitive verb

ex·​on·​er·​ate ig-ˈzä-nə-ˌrāt, eg- 

exonerated; exonerating

1

: to relieve especially of a charge, obligation, or hardship

2

: to clear from accusation or blame compare acquit, exculpate

Etymology

Latin exonerare to relieve, free, discharge, from ex- out + onerare to burden, from oner-, onus load