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
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
Administrative complaints start the disciplinary process, which can end from exoneration to license revocation.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 2026
Here's how to watch the exoneration in real time.
—Julianna Duennes Russ, Austin American Statesman, 19 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
Eyewitness misidentification was a contributing factor in nearly 1,200 out of more than 4,000 exonerations nationwide, according to the National Registry of Exonerations, a database put together by the University of Michigan, Michigan State University and UCI Newkirk Center for Science and Society.
—Kristine Phillips, IndyStar, 26 Jan. 2026
Walker's son, Ted Smith, 72, gave testimony at his father's posthumous exoneration, noting his mother never recovered after the execution.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Creuzot has highlighted his office’s work on criminal justice reforms, including establishing deflection centers to steer people with mental illness to treatment instead of jail, reducing juvenile detention and prioritizing conviction integrity and exoneration.
—Jane Harper, Dallas Morning News, 20 Jan. 2026
Claire Lempert, ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026
Administrative complaints start the disciplinary process, which can end from exoneration to license revocation.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 2026
Here's how to watch the exoneration in real time.
—Julianna Duennes Russ, Austin American Statesman, 19 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
Eyewitness misidentification was a contributing factor in nearly 1,200 out of more than 4,000 exonerations nationwide, according to the National Registry of Exonerations, a database put together by the University of Michigan, Michigan State University and UCI Newkirk Center for Science and Society.
—Kristine Phillips, IndyStar, 26 Jan. 2026
Walker's son, Ted Smith, 72, gave testimony at his father's posthumous exoneration, noting his mother never recovered after the execution.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Creuzot has highlighted his office’s work on criminal justice reforms, including establishing deflection centers to steer people with mental illness to treatment instead of jail, reducing juvenile detention and prioritizing conviction integrity and exoneration.
—Jane Harper, Dallas Morning News, 20 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exoneration
Noun
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Although the Hagans ultimately use a presidential pardon to escape legal consequences, their crimes are broadcast to the world by a corrupt banker, Freya Myers (Michaela Watkins).—
Max Gao,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Feb. 2026
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Hernández also said the law does not take effect automatically, requiring individuals to petition courts to formalize their pardon.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Fortunately, credit card debt forgiveness can help here, too, by getting your balance down to a manageable level.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
24 Feb. 2026
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Let the girls on the show have their anger … or their gratefulness … and hopefully, their forgiveness of themselves and these people.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Tracy Price, a multigenerational Palisades resident, described how historic fuel break programs and mechanical clearing on adjacent lands were discontinued decades ago.—
Michelle Edgar,
Daily News,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 17.—
Sarah Moore,
Freep.com,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
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For such an approach to then result in an acquittal is even rarer after an Idaho Supreme Court decision in 2009 set the legal precedent for using the pathway as a defense.—
Kevin Fixler,
Idaho Statesman,
20 Feb. 2026
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In Los Angeles, all five of the prosecutions under the statute that have gone to trial since last summer have resulted in an acquittal.—
Isabelle Chapman,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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For a population that strives not only to be good, but to be officially good—to dedicate its offices to the needs and the vindication of the vulnerable—the persistence of family abuse is an embarrassing rebuke.—
Elaine Blair,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
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Canada considered the Supreme Court decision a vindication of its argument that it shouldn't be held to those emergency tariffs.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Exoneration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exoneration. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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