as in acquitted
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as in absolved
to free from a charge of wrongdoing
the results of the DNA fingerprinting finally exonerated the man, but only after he had wasted 10 years of his life in prison
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Recent Examples of exonerated
Beandrea July, IndieWire, 29 Jan. 2026
There are post-release government resources for people exiting prison, but none tailored to the extraordinary circumstances of the exonerated — wronged by the legal system, in many cases over decades, and then suddenly put on the street with no preparation or plan for facing the outside world.
—Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
The civil rights counts against Buck Aldridge are not related to the fatal shooting of the exonerated man, Leonard Cure, whom Aldridge killed during a struggle after a traffic stop in 2023.
—Phil Helsel, NBC news, 8 Aug. 2025
Tony Plohetski, Austin American Statesman, 23 Feb. 2026
The simple fact that Charles made the statement showed the scale of the problem created by the arrest of the king’s 66-year-old sibling, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who was held for 11 hours and then released under investigation, meaning he was neither charged nor exonerated.
—ABC News, 21 Feb. 2026
Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on Thursday, held for 11 hours and then released under investigation, meaning he was neither charged nor exonerated.
—Mariia Kashchenko, CBS News, 21 Feb. 2026
Police searched his residences as investigations continue; the 66-year-old remains under investigation without being charged or exonerated.
—Pan Pylas, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
The former prince has neither been charged nor exonerated at this time, NPR's Lauren Frayer says.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 20 Feb. 2026
An internal investigation ultimately exonerated McClain, who had denied the allegations.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
Yarris, to be played by Brody, was the first person sentenced to death in Pennsylvania to be exonerated by DNA evidence.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 9 Feb. 2026
Court records show Antwan Shelton, one of the first two people arrested in the case, was exonerated in April.
—7news Wjla, Baltimore Sun, 9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
The film’s most tense and destabilizing sequence is a confrontational meeting between the exonerated men and Bishop.
—Beandrea July, IndieWire, 29 Jan. 2026
There are post-release government resources for people exiting prison, but none tailored to the extraordinary circumstances of the exonerated — wronged by the legal system, in many cases over decades, and then suddenly put on the street with no preparation or plan for facing the outside world.
—Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
The civil rights counts against Buck Aldridge are not related to the fatal shooting of the exonerated man, Leonard Cure, whom Aldridge killed during a struggle after a traffic stop in 2023.
—Phil Helsel, NBC news, 8 Aug. 2025
Verb
Danziger, who was beaten by another inmate while incarcerated and suffered a severe brain injury, was later exonerated through DNA testing.
—Tony Plohetski, Austin American Statesman, 23 Feb. 2026
The simple fact that Charles made the statement showed the scale of the problem created by the arrest of the king’s 66-year-old sibling, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who was held for 11 hours and then released under investigation, meaning he was neither charged nor exonerated.
—ABC News, 21 Feb. 2026
Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on Thursday, held for 11 hours and then released under investigation, meaning he was neither charged nor exonerated.
—Mariia Kashchenko, CBS News, 21 Feb. 2026
Police searched his residences as investigations continue; the 66-year-old remains under investigation without being charged or exonerated.
—Pan Pylas, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
The former prince has neither been charged nor exonerated at this time, NPR's Lauren Frayer says.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 20 Feb. 2026
An internal investigation ultimately exonerated McClain, who had denied the allegations.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
Yarris, to be played by Brody, was the first person sentenced to death in Pennsylvania to be exonerated by DNA evidence.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 9 Feb. 2026
Court records show Antwan Shelton, one of the first two people arrested in the case, was exonerated in April.
—7news Wjla, Baltimore Sun, 9 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exonerated
Verb
-
He was impeached in 2023 for allegedly using his office to benefit a political donor, though he was acquitted in the Senate.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 Mar. 2026
-
That jury acquitted Cornwell on a third count.—
Logan Smith,
CBS News,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
What counts as a cleared sidewalk?—
Quinn Clark,
jsonline.com,
1 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Exonerated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exonerated. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.
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