vindicate

verb

vin·​di·​cate ˈvin-də-ˌkāt 

vindicated; vindicating

transitive verb

1

a

: to free from allegation or blame : to show that someone is not guilty

a non-profit group that works to vindicate those wrongly convicted

They have evidence that will vindicate [=exonerate] her.

b(1)

: confirm, substantiate

These discoveries vindicate their theory.

… there was a mad scramble to discover artifacts that might vindicate various claims about the Bible.

—Jennifer Schuessler

(2)

: to provide justification or defense for : justify

felt vindicated when the truth became known

c

: to protect from attack or encroachment : defend

Today's decision on its face does little to vindicate tribal sovereignty …

—Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals

2

: avenge

3

: to maintain a right to

4

obsolete : to set free : deliver

Did you know?

It’s hard not to marvel at the rich history of vindicate. Vindicate, which has been used in English since at least the mid-16th century, comes from a form of the Latin verb vindicare, meaning “to set free, avenge, or lay claim to.” Vindicare, in turn, comes from vindex, a noun meaning “claimant” or “avenger.” Truly, vindex has proven to be an incredible hulk of a word progenitor over the centuries. Other descendants of this “avenger” assembled in English include avenge itself, revenge, vengeance, vendetta, and vindictive.

Synonyms of vindicate

• acquit

Choose the Right Synonym for vindicate

exculpate, absolve, exonerate, acquit, vindicate mean to free from a charge.

exculpate implies a clearing from blame or fault often in a matter of small importance.

exculpating himself from the charge of overenthusiasm

absolve implies a release either from an obligation that binds the conscience or from the consequences of disobeying the law or committing a sin.

cannot be absolved of blame

exonerate implies a complete clearance from an accusation or charge and from any attendant suspicion of blame or guilt.

exonerated by the investigation

acquit implies a formal decision in one's favor with respect to a definite charge.

voted to acquit the defendant

vindicate may refer to things as well as persons that have been subjected to critical attack or imputation of guilt, weakness, or folly, and implies a clearing effected by proving the unfairness of such criticism or blame.

her judgment was vindicated

maintain, assert, defend, vindicate, justify mean to uphold as true, right, just, or reasonable.

maintain stresses firmness of conviction.

steadfastly maintained his innocence

assert suggests determination to make others accept one's claim.

asserted her rights

defend implies maintaining in the face of attack or criticism.

defended his voting record

vindicate implies successfully defending.

his success vindicated our faith in him

justify implies showing to be true, just, or valid by appeal to a standard or to precedent.

the action was used to justify military intervention

Examples of vindicate in a Sentence

She will be completely vindicated by the evidence.

These discoveries vindicate their theory.

Their approach to the problem has been vindicated by the positive results.

He felt vindicated when the truth became known.

Recent Examples on the Web

Unsurprising to no one, Rowling and her ilk felt vindicated by the report, expressing their content across social media. —Quispe López, Them., 30 Oct. 2025

And who knows, art history may vindicate him. —Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025

Milei’s win will also vindicate the extraordinary support US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent offered Argentina. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025

Notre Dame has been vindicated with the choice to anoint Freeman as Kelly's successor. —Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin vindicatus, past participle of vindicare to lay claim to, avenge, from vindic-, vindex claimant, avenger

First Known Use

circa 1571, in the meaning defined at sense 4

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Kids Definition

vindicate

verb

vin·​di·​cate ˈvin-də-ˌkāt 

vindicated; vindicating

1

: to free from blame or guilt

evidence that will vindicate me

2

: confirm sense 4

later discoveries vindicated the claim

vindication

ˌvin-də-ˈkā-shən

noun

vindicator

ˈvin-də-ˌkāt-ər 

noun