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Definition of exonerate

exonerate

/ɪɡˈzɑːnəreɪt/
ex · on · er · ate
Adjective:exonerative
•
Past Simple:exonerated
•
Past Participle:exonerated
•
Present Participle:exonerating
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exonerate Lexical Profile

exonerate Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To officially absolve someone from blame, fault, or a criminal charge.

Example

"Newly analyzed DNA evidence helped exonerate the defendant after a decade of wrongful imprisonment."

2

To release someone from a duty, obligation, or financial burden.

Example

"A special clause in the contract served to exonerate the tenant from paying for structural repairs."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for exonerate

• Nearby Words

exochorda
exodus
exonarthex
exonerate
exoneration
exonerative
exoneree

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the early 16th century from Latin exoneratus, the past participle of exonerare ('to free from a burden'), formed from ex- ('out of') and onus ('burden, load', which also gives English 'onerous').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Exonerate. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/exonerate
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