as in pardon
a setting free from a charge of wrongdoing
the accused refused a plea bargain, asserting that he was innocent and would settle for nothing less than complete exoneration
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Recent Examples of exoneration
The country had yet to hold the first Marcos to account for plunder and human-rights abuses, and this election seemed an exoneration of both his and Rodrigo Duterte’s sins.
—
Sheila Coronel, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026
Travis County District Attorney José Garza, whose office played a key role in Mejia’s exoneration, praised the federal government’s decision to lift the immigration hold.
—Austin Sanders, Austin American Statesman, 11 Mar. 2026
Mejia was not released at the conclusion of the exoneration hearing because of an immigration hold stemming from her conviction.
—Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 10 Mar. 2026
An email seeking comment about the exoneration was not immediately answered.
—CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
Administrative complaints start the process that ends at the state Board of Medicine with either exoneration or punitive action.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 1 Mar. 2026
District Attorney José Garza, who had pursued the exonerations with his Conviction Integrity Unit, apologized to the men and their families after the hearing.
—Claire Lempert, ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026
Since the founding of the Innocence Project, in 1992, which uses DNA evidence to overturn convictions, exoneration stories have become a familiar genre.
—Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2026
Tulsky decided to take that dive a couple of years after McIntyre’s exoneration.
—Dan Kelly, Kansas City Star, 17 Feb. 2026
Sheila Coronel, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026
Travis County District Attorney José Garza, whose office played a key role in Mejia’s exoneration, praised the federal government’s decision to lift the immigration hold.
—Austin Sanders, Austin American Statesman, 11 Mar. 2026
Mejia was not released at the conclusion of the exoneration hearing because of an immigration hold stemming from her conviction.
—Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 10 Mar. 2026
An email seeking comment about the exoneration was not immediately answered.
—CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
Administrative complaints start the process that ends at the state Board of Medicine with either exoneration or punitive action.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 1 Mar. 2026
District Attorney José Garza, who had pursued the exonerations with his Conviction Integrity Unit, apologized to the men and their families after the hearing.
—Claire Lempert, ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026
Since the founding of the Innocence Project, in 1992, which uses DNA evidence to overturn convictions, exoneration stories have become a familiar genre.
—Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2026
Tulsky decided to take that dive a couple of years after McIntyre’s exoneration.
—Dan Kelly, Kansas City Star, 17 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exoneration
Noun
-
One defendant was granted a second pardon to cover his gun charges.—
Joe Walsh,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Not everyone who posts will end up behind bars and many cases end with pardons.—
Mohammed Sergie,
semafor.com,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
King did not apologize or seek forgiveness.—
DAVID FISCHER THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
18 Mar. 2026
-
King did not apologize or seek forgiveness.—
CBS Miami Team,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Some mines are programmed to ignore the first ship that passes, detonating only on the fifth, just so that the mine-clearing team goes through safely and the tanker behind it takes the hit.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Most owls like to have a clearing nearby for hunting.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The prosecution was dropped in October 2008 after a jury split 10 to 2 in favor of acquittal.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Ali handed the money to a relative of Juror 52 and said there would be more money if the juror voted for acquittal in the trial.—
Nick Ferraro,
Twin Cities,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
For those who have suffered under the grip of the Khamenei regime, the destruction of some facilities – including detention centers and morality police compounds – brings a complicated sense of relief and vindication.—
Kara Fox,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
-
This was vindication for his patient work.—
Devin Bradshaw,
Mercury News,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Exoneration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exoneration. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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