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

Most famously, Iwao Hakamada spent decades on death row over a 1966 quadruple murder before being released in 2014 and fully exonerated in 2024 at the age of 88. — CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026

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

The complaint led to Gingrich's resignation and an IRS investigation, which eventually exonerated him. — Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026

Knox served nearly four years in an Italian prison before her conviction was overturned, and she was exonerated. — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Aug. 2026

These include cases in which the men were exonerated through DNA or blood evidence and others in which police are accused of fabricating evidence. — Richard A. Webster, ProPublica, 6 Aug. 2026

Newly exonerated, he's treated in some corners as a folk hero. — Jp Mangalindan, Time, 31 July 2026

After Angela was arrested in January 2017 and pleaded guilty to all charges, Hadley was exonerated. — Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 25 July 2026