ACQUIT Synonyms: 60 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'acquit' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of acquit are absolve , exculpate , exonerate , and vindicate . While all these words mean "to free from a charge," acquit implies a formal decision in one's favor with respect to a definite charge. // voted to acquit the defendant

Q: When might 'absolve' be a better fit than 'acquit'?

While the synonyms absolve and acquit are close in meaning, 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

Q: When can 'exculpate' be used instead of 'acquit'?

In some situations, the words exculpate and acquit are roughly equivalent. However, exculpate implies a clearing from blame or fault often in a matter of small importance. // exculpating himself from the charge of overenthusiasm

Q: When is it sensible to use 'exonerate' instead of 'acquit'?

While in some cases nearly identical to acquit , exonerate implies a complete clearance from an accusation or charge and from any attendant suspicion of blame or guilt. // exonerated by the investigation

Q: When could 'vindicate' be used to replace 'acquit'?

The words vindicate and acquit are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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

acquit

verb

ə-ˈkwit

Definition of acquit

as in to clear

to free from a charge of wrongdoing acquitted of the robbery charge after proving he was nowhere near the scene of the crime

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to carry

to manage the actions of (oneself) in a particular way the king promised handsome rewards to all who acquitted themselves well in the battle

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb acquit differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of acquit are absolve, exculpate, exonerate, and vindicate. While all these words mean "to free from a charge," acquit implies a formal decision in one's favor with respect to a definite charge.

voted to acquit the defendant

When might absolve be a better fit than acquit?

While the synonyms absolve and acquit are close in meaning, 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

When can exculpate be used instead of acquit?

In some situations, the words exculpate and acquit are roughly equivalent. However, exculpate implies a clearing from blame or fault often in a matter of small importance.

exculpating himself from the charge of overenthusiasm

When is it sensible to use exonerate instead of acquit?

While in some cases nearly identical to acquit, exonerate implies a complete clearance from an accusation or charge and from any attendant suspicion of blame or guilt.

exonerated by the investigation

When could vindicate be used to replace acquit?

The words vindicate and acquit are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of acquit Earlier in June, a jury acquitted Gene Evin Atkins, 36, of first-degree murder and deadlocked 10-2 on the second-degree murder charge. — Julie Sharp, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026 Despite the high-profile trial, Burr was acquitted due to a lack of concrete evidence. — USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026 Defense attorney Errol Cook urged jurors to acquit his client of murder. — Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026 Cook County Judge Koula Fournier acquitted Cheryl Moore of both charges following a bench trial Thursday, according to court records. — Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 17 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for acquit

Recent Examples of Synonyms for acquit

Verb

The story tracks a Chinese chef who moves to the Middle East to clear family debts by running a restaurant, only to see the venue become a community refuge when armed conflict breaks out across the region.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 24 Aug. 2026
Carrington was listed as questionable with a left foot injury, but she was cleared after going through warmups.

— Jay Cohen, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of clear

Verb

Property owners will claim the hurricane absolves them of liability.

— Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
Compassion for Hilton in this moment does not have to absolve his past, and accountability for that past should not be used to justify cruelty in the present.

— Krystie Lee Yandoli, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of absolve

Verb

The incident was quickly followed by a slew of other companies reporting instances where AI agents behaved in unexpected ways.

— Tom Matsuda, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2026
In another part of the study, the research team saw that fat cells behaved differently when drenched with blood collected from the HIIT folks, including changes involved in many genes that regulate fat and whole-body metabolism.

— Will Stone, NPR, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of behave

Verb

The main thing stock folks are worried about – the voracious consumption and headlong deployment of capital for AI – is now the thing lifting rates and potentially restraining growth elsewhere.

— Michael Santoli, CNBC, 24 Aug. 2026
Cameramen raced around hectically setting up lights and checking shots as choreographers ran through fight sequences and a prop team worked out how to hoist a net that would later restrain a hostage.

— Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of restrain

Verb

After another disturbance, McClatchy was jailed on charges of resisting the authority of the sheriff, but later exonerated, the Media Museum said.

— Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 15 Aug. 2026
Serial killer Robert Eugene Brashers was long dead (and never appears in the first four episodes), but the DNA findings exonerated the falsely accused.

— Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of exonerate

Verb

And the latest poll, conducted by the Institute of Governmental Studies at UC Berkeley, found 48% of likely voters support it, 41% oppose it and 11% are undecided.

— Dan Walters, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026
This will be the third spacewalk for Menon and the second for Adenot, the first French woman ever to conduct an EVA.

— Mike Wall, Space.com, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of conduct

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“Acquit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acquit. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of acquit

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