vindicate

verb

vin·​di·​cate ˈvin-də-ˌkāt 

vindicated; vindicating

transitive verb

1

a

: 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

Did you know?

It’s hard not to marvel at the rich history of vindicate. Vindicate, which has been used in English since at least the mid-16th century, comes from a form of the Latin verb vindicare, meaning “to set free, avenge, or lay claim to.” Vindicare, in turn, comes from vindex, a noun meaning “claimant” or “avenger.” Truly, vindex has proven to be an incredible hulk of a word progenitor over the centuries. Other descendants of this “avenger” assembled in English include avenge itself, revenge, vengeance, vendetta, and vindictive.

Synonyms

• absolve
• acquit
• clear
• exculpate
• exonerate

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

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

To some, the shift may vindicate Trump's America First strategy — a sign that pressuring allies to increase defense spending is working. —Scott Neuman, NPR, 4 June 2025

The rabbi was then falsely accused of stalking and was later vindicated, with the accusers being ordered to pay for his $182,000 legal bills. —Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 29 May 2025

If the founding history of this country is any guide, those who stood up in court to vindicate constitutional rights and, by so doing, served to promote the rule of law, will be the models lauded when this period of American history is written. —Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2025

Eighty years after Bristol was statistically vindicated, she was chemically vindicated too. —Jennifer Szalai, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin vindicatus, past participle of vindicare to lay claim to, avenge, from vindic-, vindex claimant, avenger

First Known Use

circa 1571, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

vindicate

verb

vin·​di·​cate ˈvin-də-ˌkāt 

vindicated; vindicating

1

: to free from blame or guilt

evidence that will vindicate me

2

: confirm sense 4

later discoveries vindicated the claim

vindication

ˌvin-də-ˈkā-shən

noun

vindicator

ˈvin-də-ˌkāt-ər 

noun