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

The film includes a riveting scene where the exonerated men — Ransom Watkins, Andrew Stewart, and Alfred Chestnut – meet face-to-face with a man who recanted his testimony that had helped convict the trio decades earlier. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2026

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

According to the nonpartisan Death Penalty Information Center, at least 203 people on death row across 30 states have been exonerated based on evidence of innocence since 1973. — Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 6 Nov. 2026

In 1790, Robert Morris, the superintendent of finances during the Continental Congress and a financier of the American Revolution, asked Congress to investigate his handling of the country’s finances and was exonerated of any wrongdoing. — Gibbs Knotts, The Conversation, 4 Nov. 2026

Police questioned Mountbatten-Windsor for 11 hours before releasing him under investigation, meaning he was neither charged nor exonerated. — Danica Kirka, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026

Sumstad’s lawsuit alleges confidential details of the Internal Affairs investigations were leaked to the media without showing that she had been exonerated. — Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 24 Sep. 2026

In 2021, he and his brother, Sean Tyler, were both exonerated for the crime after his attorneys successfully argued they were victimized by detectives in Area 1’s homicide bureau working under Burge. — A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026

Two years later, John and Patsy were exonerated by then-Boulder County District Attorney Mary Lacy, crediting DNA evidence that was not previously available. — Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Sep. 2026

By acquitting Fisher, the council members had inadvertently exonerated Metze. — Benjamin Wofford, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026

Studies have shown that Black people, particularly men, are more likely to be wrongfully convicted than white people and also spend more time in prison before being exonerated. — Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2026