vindicate

verb

ˈvin-də-ˌkāt How to pronounce vindicate (audio)
Definition of vindicatenext
1
as in to acquit
to free from a charge of wrongdoing vowed that the evidence would completely vindicate him

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to confirm
to give evidence or testimony to the truth or factualness of recent discoveries have generally vindicated the physicist's theories

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb vindicate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of vindicate are absolve, acquit, exculpate, and exonerate. While all these words mean "to free from a charge," 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

When might absolve be a better fit than vindicate?

Although the words absolve and vindicate have much in common, 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

In what contexts can acquit take the place of vindicate?

The synonyms acquit and vindicate are sometimes interchangeable, but acquit implies a formal decision in one's favor with respect to a definite charge.

voted to acquit the defendant

When could exculpate be used to replace vindicate?

The meanings of exculpate and vindicate largely overlap; however, exculpate implies a clearing from blame or fault often in a matter of small importance.

exculpating himself from the charge of overenthusiasm

When would exonerate be a good substitute for vindicate?

The words exonerate and vindicate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, exonerate implies a complete clearance from an accusation or charge and from any attendant suspicion of blame or guilt.

exonerated by the investigation

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 vindicate Sotomayor wrote that transgender Americans lack the political power to vindicate their interests before the legislatures passing the care bans. —Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 18 June 2025 There’s something incredibly vindicating about finding out that in each cell in my body, in my DNA, there is a mutation that makes my limbs grow more slowly than average height people. —Virgie Tovar, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025 And on Thursday, the Supreme Court sided with Tharpe and her parents in lowering the burden for the school children to meet when seeking to vindicate their rights in court. —Nina Totenberg, NPR, 12 June 2025 Dua Lipa and Callum Turner are officially engaged, which should feel vindicating to all those eagle-eyed celebrity news readers who spotted the pop singer wearing a diamond ring on her fourth lefthand finger in a Christmas Eve photo dump last year. —Riann Phillip, Vogue, 16 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for vindicate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vindicate
  1. acquit
  2. confirm
  3. verify
  4. argue
Verb
  • Valle was acquitted on Wednesday on charges of murder, intentional manslaughter and intentional assault.
    — Peter D'Abrosca, FOXNews.com, 10 July 2025
  • In October 2005, a Finnish court acquitted Gustafsson, ruling the evidence against him was too weak and inconsistent.
    — Christina Coulter, People.com, 8 July 2025
Definition of acquit
Verb
  • Jones provided those services to the youth mentoring group for its annual conferences between 2019 and 2024 under a different audiovisual company, American Electronic Entertainment, aka, AEE Productions, 100 Black Men of America confirmed.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 6 July 2025
  • His death at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles was confirmed by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons on June 24, but authorities have not disclosed the cause.
    — Scott MacFarlane July 6, CBS News, 6 July 2025
Definition of confirm
Verb
  • For all July 4 plans involving alcohol, plan ahead and verify specific store hours or delivery options directly with retailers.
    — Kate Nalepinski, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 July 2025
  • An editor verified the accuracy of the information before publishing.
    — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 3 July 2025
Definition of verify
Verb
  • The firm argues that without players like Jane Street, there would be no link between the Indian derivatives market and its real economy.
    — Daniel Schlaepfer, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
  • Critics have argued that families in poverty have more immediate needs and that their children should receive a larger endowment if the goal is to help level the playing field.
    — MORIAH BALINGIT, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2025
Definition of argue

Browse Nearby Words

vindicable
vindicate
vindicated
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Cite this Entry

“Vindicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vindicate. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of vindicate for Spanish Speakers

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