Exonerate means to officiallyin a formal or authorized way, especially by an organization or court say that someone is not guilty of a crime or wrongdoingbad or illegal behavior; an act that breaks rules or laws. It is often used in legal contexts, especially when charges are dropped or a person is cleared after an investigationcareful examination of facts to discover what happened.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-17. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ig-ZAH-nuh-rayt/
Easy pronunciation: ig-ZAH-nuh-rayt (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the second syllable: ZAH.
Verb meaning to officially declare someone not guilty of criminal charges.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-17. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Exonerate Meaning
to officially declare that someone did not do the crime
Part of speech: verb
Definition: Pronounce someone not guilty of criminal charges.
Example: New evidence helped exonerate the defendant.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- acquit — A direct legal substitute for finding someone not guilty.
- clear — Common in legal and general use, though slightly broader than exonerate.
- exculpate — Means to show or declare that someone is not responsible for a wrongdoing.
- discharge — Can work in legal contexts, though it is less precise and broader in meaning.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-17. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Exonerate Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- acquit
- clear
- exculpate
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-17. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not confuse exonerate with excuse. Exonerate means to show someone was not guilty, not just to forgive or overlook the act.
- It is also not the same as explain; exonerate is about clearing responsibility.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-17. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does exonerate mean in simple English?
It means to officially say that someone is not guilty or not responsible for a crime or serious wrongdoing.
What are the best synonyms for exonerate?
Good synonyms include acquit, clear, and exculpate. In some legal contexts, discharge can also fit.
Is exonerate the same as forgive?
No. Forgive means to stop blaming someone, but exonerate means to show they were not guilty or not responsible.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-17. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.