When the truth finally comes out and the blame is lifted, there is a word for that
Word of the Day: EXONERATE
Pronunciation: ig-ZON-uh-rayt
UK /ɪɡˈzɒnəreɪt/
US /ɪɡˈzɑːnəreɪt/
Meaning
Exonerate is a verb that means to officially clear someone of blame, guilt or responsibility for something they have been accused of. It can also mean to relieve someone of a duty, obligation or responsibility.
Also Read
Examples in everyday sentences
- New evidence helped exonerate the man who had been wrongly accused of theft.
- The investigation failed to exonerate the company from responsibility for the accident.
- The DNA results finally exonerated him after years in prison.
Origin and history
Exonerate comes from the Latin word exonerare, meaning to unload, discharge or free from a burden. It is formed from ex, meaning out of or from, and onus, meaning a burden or load.
The word entered English in the 16th century. Its earliest meaning was quite literal: to unload or remove a burden. By the late 16th century, it had developed the figurative meaning of freeing someone from blame or an accusation. The idea of removing a weight remains at the heart of the word's modern meaning.
Also Read: Word of the Day, November 5: ‘Demure’
Cultural significance and modern usage
Exonerate is most commonly used in legal and investigative contexts. When a person is exonerated, it means that evidence or an official finding has cleared them of responsibility for an alleged offence or wrongdoing.
The word also appears in news reports about wrongful convictions, public inquiries and political controversies.
Interesting facts
The noun form of exonerate is exoneration, which means the act of clearing someone of blame.
An acquittal is a legal decision that a person is not guilty of a criminal charge. Exoneration more broadly refers to being cleared of blame or responsibility, sometimes through evidence that emerges after a conviction.
Examples from literature
- “My state of mind regarding the pilfering from which I had been so unexpectedly exonerated…”— Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
- “William fled away, glad to be exonerated.”— Sons and Lovers by D. H. Lawrence
- “He tells himself at the same time [...] that, judged by the Powers, he is exonerated.”— The Amazing Marriage by George Meredith
Synonyms
- Acquit
- Clear
- Absolve
- Vindicate
- Exculpate
- Pardon
- Discharge
- Free
Antonyms
- Blame
- Accuse
- Convict
- Incriminate
- Implicate
- Condemn
- Indict
Read more Word of the Day here
Published: 06 Nov 2026, 08:00 am IST
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Related Topics
Disclaimer: Kindly avoid objectionable, derogatory, unlawful and lewd comments, while responding to reports. Such comments are punishable under cyber laws. Please keep away from personal attacks. The opinions expressed here are the personal opinions of readers and not that of Mathrubhumi.