vindicate

verb

vin·di·cate | \ ˈvin-də-ˌkāt

vindicated; vindicating

Definition of vindicate

transitive verb

1a : to free from allegation or blame

b(1) : confirm, substantiate

(2) : to provide justification or defense for : justify

c : to protect from attack or encroachment : defend

2 : avenge

3 : to maintain a right to

4 obsolete : to set free : deliver

Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about vindicate

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Synonyms & Antonyms for vindicate

Synonyms

absolve, acquit, clear, exculpate, exonerate

Antonyms

criminate, incriminate

Choose the Right Synonym for vindicate

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

maintain, assert, defend, vindicate, justify mean to uphold as true, right, just, or reasonable. maintain stresses firmness of conviction. steadfastly maintained his innocence assert suggests determination to make others accept one's claim. asserted her rights defend implies maintaining in the face of attack or criticism. defended his voting record vindicate implies successfully defending. his success vindicated our faith in him justify implies showing to be true, just, or valid by appeal to a standard or to precedent. the action was used to justify military intervention

Did You Know?

It's not surprising that the two earliest senses of "vindicate," which has been used in English since at least the mid-16th century, are "to set free" (a sense that is now obsolete) and "to avenge." Vindicate derives from Latin vindicatus, the past participle of the verb vindicare, meaning "to set free, avenge, or lay claim to." "Vindicare," in turn, derives from "vindex," a noun meaning "claimant" or "avenger." Other descendants of "vindicare" in English include such vengeful words as "avenge" itself, "revenge," "vengeance," "vendetta," and "vindictive." Closer cousins of "vindicate" are "vindicable" ("capable of being vindicated") and the archaic word vindicative ("punitive").

Examples of vindicate in a Sentence

She will be completely vindicated by the evidence. These discoveries vindicate their theory. Their approach to the problem has been vindicated by the positive results. He felt vindicated when the truth became known.

Recent Examples on the Web

But Planned Parenthood has leapfrogged state adjudication by recruiting plaintiffs to sue in federal court to vindicate their putative right to their preferred provider. — The Editorial Board, WSJ, "Behind the Supreme Court’s Dodge," 12 Dec. 2018 Her attorney, Leonard Feurer, said Haynie was innocent and would be vindicated. — Marci Shatzman, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Gov. Rick Scott suspends Boca Raton Mayor Susan Haynie," 27 Apr. 2018 But Lari’s track record seems to vindicate the brashness of his youth. — Andrada Fiscutean, Ars Technica, "The adventures of lab ED011—“Nobody would be able to duplicate what happened there”," 27 Aug. 2018 Greitens has denied criminal wrongdoing and has said he will be vindicated after his May trial. — Will Schmitt, USA TODAY, "Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens indicted — again. He’s accused of stealing charity donor list for campaign," 20 Apr. 2018 Netanyahu has denied all the charges and has vowed that he will be vindicated, but domestic pressure on the hawkish leader who has dominated Israeli politics for the last two decades is mounting. — Kennett Werner, NBC News, "Iran, Israel battle openly in race to define ‘rules of the game’," 16 Feb. 2018 The case was settled out of court, with Dershowitz saying he had been vindicated. — Julie K. Brown, The Seattle Times, "Perversion of Justice: Even from jail, sex abuser manipulated the system. His victims were kept in the dark," 4 Dec. 2018 And while the lone spearman's attack may have been futile at the time, the tactic has been since been vindicated by history. — David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, "That Time a CIA Spyplane Had to Dodge a Spear During the Cold War," 14 Jan. 2019 Currently Congress, the Justice Department, and a big majority of states are under the control of a Republican Party that has all but abandoned any interest in vindicating voting rights. — Ed Kilgore, Daily Intelligencer, "Supreme Court Opens Door to More Red-State Voter Purges," 11 June 2018

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