as in acquitted
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Dissimilar Words
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
The Week Us, TheWeek, 13 Apr. 2026
After spending about 11 hours in custody, Andrew was released under investigation, meaning he has neither been charged nor exonerated.
—Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 7 Apr. 2026
Leonard Cohen‘s manager has been exonerated of claims of financial wrongdoing following a 10-day trial in probate court.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 3 Apr. 2026
Data shows as of October 2025, the Brooklyn District Attorney's Conviction Review Unit exonerated over 500 people.
—Jennifer Bisram, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
Meir Tobianski was executed for treason in 1948 but was completely exonerated a year later.
—Matt Bradley, NBC news, 1 Apr. 2026
Both involved men exonerated in murder cases after spending roughly two decades in prison.
—Joe Mahr, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
The remaining charges against Riley — poisoning and providing drugs to a woman — were dismissed, leaving her exonerated.
—Sean Emery, Oc Register, 25 Mar. 2026
But after the legal case was dismissed by a judge who said the court did not have competence over the issues involved, Laporta claimed to have been completely exonerated on all accounts.
—Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 16 Mar. 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
More than 200 death row inmates have been exonerated since 1973, thanks to DNA analysis and other investigative advancements.
—The Week Us, TheWeek, 13 Apr. 2026
After spending about 11 hours in custody, Andrew was released under investigation, meaning he has neither been charged nor exonerated.
—Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 7 Apr. 2026
Leonard Cohen‘s manager has been exonerated of claims of financial wrongdoing following a 10-day trial in probate court.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 3 Apr. 2026
Data shows as of October 2025, the Brooklyn District Attorney's Conviction Review Unit exonerated over 500 people.
—Jennifer Bisram, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
Meir Tobianski was executed for treason in 1948 but was completely exonerated a year later.
—Matt Bradley, NBC news, 1 Apr. 2026
Both involved men exonerated in murder cases after spending roughly two decades in prison.
—Joe Mahr, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
The remaining charges against Riley — poisoning and providing drugs to a woman — were dismissed, leaving her exonerated.
—Sean Emery, Oc Register, 25 Mar. 2026
But after the legal case was dismissed by a judge who said the court did not have competence over the issues involved, Laporta claimed to have been completely exonerated on all accounts.
—Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exonerated
Verb
-
Diller gave his life trying to make the streets of NYC safer, and this career criminal — who shouldn’t have been on the streets with a gun — is acquitted of murder.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
7 Apr. 2026
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But in December 2025, DeArcy Hall unraveled Jordan’s conviction and acquitted him, while upholding the verdict against Washington.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Not all pads are alike, but a footprint on the larger side involves five to ten acres of cleared, packed ground that serves as the hub for drilling equipment, which can include wellheads, pump jacks, tanks, wastewater storage pits, trailers, and flare stacks.—
Alex Heard,
Outside,
4 Mar. 2026
-
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 15 Apr. 2026.
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