Synonyms of exonerated

exonerated 1 of 2

adjective

as in acquitted

Related Words

• acquitted
• cleared
• absolved
• vindicated
• blameless
• guiltless
• irreproachable
• innocent
• faultless
• lily-white
• inculpable
• impeccable
• cleanhanded
• virtuous
• clear
• righteous
• moral
• ethical
• upright
• law-abiding

Dissimilar Words

• guilty
• culpable
• accused
• punishable
• convicted
• condemned
• impeachable
• blameworthy
• indictable
• blamable
• indicted
• censurable
• impeached
• shamefaced
• hangdog
• shamed

exonerated

2 of 2

verb

past tense of exonerate

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• acquitted
• absolved
• vindicated
• cleared
• exculpated
• released
• liberated
• redeemed
• discharged
• pardoned
• excused
• atoned (for)
• expiated
• condoned
• forgave
• whitewashed
• remitted
• avenged
• revenged
• redressed
• unburdened

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• accused
• incriminated
• charged
• indicted
• impeached
• convicted
• arraigned
• criminated

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of exonerated

Adjective

There were other consequences for the city too – like the hefty settlement payments Detroit doled out to the exonerated men in Simon’s cases. — Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2026

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

Investigations by the state showed that none of the allegations were true; we were completely exonerated. — Scott Maxwell, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 July 2026

The reputations of our decent and hard-working journalists were terribly impugned, and today they have been exonerated. — K.j. Yossman, Variety, 7 July 2026

Landry and Murrill have pointed to the 2011 plea deal in objecting to Duncan calling himself exonerated. — Safiyah Riddle, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026

No state has exonerated more death row prisoners, 30 men in all. — Pamela Colloff, ProPublica, 30 June 2026

Though Cady has made some gestures toward helping the Bowdens, like his behind-the-scenes effort to get one of Anna’s death-row clients exonerated last week, Tom and Anna should not be so dumb as to ignore his ulterior motives. — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 26 June 2026

The four men were exonerated in February after investigators linked another man, Robert Eugene Brashers, to the killings. — Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 26 June 2026

Drake’s team usually scrounged up the clues that later exonerated Mason’s clients. — Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 16 June 2026

Levine said internet protocol records, which include the geographic location of an internet user, would have exonerated him. — Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 11 June 2026