Definition of VINDICATED

Synonyms & Antonyms for vindicate

Synonyms

Antonyms

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

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 The state acknowledges the right to life of the unborn and, with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother, guarantees in its laws to respect, and, as far as practicable, by its laws to defend and vindicate that right. — Bridget Read, Vogue, "Everything You Need to Know About Ireland’s Abortion Referendum Vote," 24 May 2018 His opinions include several dissents that were later vindicated by Supreme Court majority opinions. — BostonGlobe.com, "Waltham native is on Trump’s short list for Supreme Court," 6 July 2018 Those who thought Alonso's power surge last year was a fluke may have felt vindicated by his slow start. — Lawr Michaels, USA TODAY, "Fantasy baseball sizzlers, fizzlers: Evan Gattis comes back to life," 29 May 2018 Some of the people watching felt vindicated by Weinstein’s perp walk and others took an almost sympathetic approach, describing him as frail. — refinery29.com, "What Everyone Is Missing About Harvey Weinstein's Perp Walk," 25 May 2018 And in the final year of Barack Obama’s presidency, the Supreme Court vindicated his administration’s position. — Eric Levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "Trump Administration Calls on Colleges to End Affirmative Action," 3 July 2018 The England man almost vindicated his manager's decision within minutes of coming on, as his goalbound shot was well blocked by Dawson. — SI.com, "Man Utd 0-1 West Brom: Baggies Stun Red Devils to Confirm Man City As Premier League Champions," 15 Apr. 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.