exoneration

noun

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of exoneration Against a surge in antisemitic attacks since the Israel-Hamas war, Macron declared July 12 a national day honoring Dreyfus’ exoneration, as Dreyfus’ 99-year-old grandson lamented antisemitism’s resurgence. — Masha MacPherson, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2026 Over the past decade, Robby and Michael have made a concerted push for Ethel’s exoneration. — Amy Weiss-Meyer, The Atlantic, 10 July 2026 Always an introvert, Sebold sank deeper into isolation after Broadwater’s exoneration. — Joaquin Sapien, ProPublica, 30 June 2026 Soon, an administrative complaint will be filed to start the process toward a final disciplinary decision or exoneration. — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 28 June 2026 Mason, of course, gets him an exoneration. — Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 16 June 2026 Details about the preliminary finding spurred stories speculating about Robinson’s possible exoneration. — ABC News, 12 June 2026 The first generation provided exoneration in an accident. — James Morris, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026 The law isn’t perfect, raising several barriers to testing, but still, DNA evidence has featured in 17 of Florida’s 30 death row exonerations. — Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exoneration
  1. pardon
  2. forgiveness
  3. clearing
  4. acquittal
  5. vindication
Noun
  • Trump commuted their prison sentences, but they were not covered by the president’s mass pardons.
    — Michael Kunzelman, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2026
  • Trump commuted their prison sentences, but they were not covered by the president's mass pardons.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 July 2026
Definition of pardon
Noun
  • As well as realization that everyone deserves love, empathy, and forgiveness.
    — Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
  • Mengel wrote the script for the cinematic exploration of family, love, forgiveness and mental health with his friend and creative partner Christian Bengtson.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 2 July 2026
Definition of forgiveness
Noun
  • The mechanism behind cholesterol-clearing UC San Diego researchers in La Jolla knew going into their latest study that high-cholesterol diets inhibit the ability of the liver — the cholesterol-removing organ — to clear it from the blood.
    — Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 July 2026
  • In that time, competing tokenization specialists from the crypto industry such as Ondo and Securitize have burst onto the scene, threatening legacy clearing infrastructure through high-profile partnerships with giants including BlackRock.
    — Tanaya Macheel, CNBC, 15 July 2026
Definition of clearing
Noun
  • The firm must still prepare and file a reply brief in support of Jones’ pending supplemental motion for acquittal in his case.
    — Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 17 July 2026
  • But when a mysterious stranger begins blackmailing Neve, she is forced to compromise every legal, moral, and ethical obligation to gain an acquittal — or else risk her dark secrets being exposed.
    — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 15 July 2026
Definition of acquittal
Noun
  • Bryan Sullivan, a lawyer for Jonasi, called the decision a vindication of his client’s right to free speech.
    — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 11 July 2026
  • Those in Norway see that as vindication of their coaching methods, where the best youngsters, like Haaland and Odegaard, have graduated through the National Team School.
    — Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 10 July 2026
Definition of vindication

Browse Nearby Words

exonerating
exoneration
exonerations
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Cite this Entry

“Exoneration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exoneration. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on exoneration

Nglish: Translation of exoneration for Spanish Speakers

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