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absolve - 20 thesaurus results
| Main Entry: | absolve |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | free from responsibility, duty |
| Synonyms: | acquit, bleach, clear, discharge, exculpate, excuse, exempt, exonerate, forgive, free, launder*, let off*, liberate, loose, pardon, release, relieve, sanitize*, spare, spring*, vindicate, whitewash, write off*, blink at, go easy on, let off easy, let off the hook, let up on, lifeboat, set free, wink at*, wipe it off, wipe the slate clean |
| Notes: | one is absolved of blame or responsibility but is acquitted of a charge, usually a crime |
| Antonyms: | bind, blame, charge, condemn, convict, hold, impeach, incriminate, obligate, punish, sentence |
* = informal/non-formal usage
| Main Entry: | atone |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | compensate; make amends for former misdoing |
| Synonyms: | absolve, answer, apologize, appease, balance, correct, counterbalance, do penance, expiate, make amends, make redress, make reparation, make up for, offset, outweigh, pay, pay one's dues, propitiate, recompense, reconcile, redeem, redress, repair, set off, square, take one's medicine |
| Main Entry: | cleanse |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | make undirty; wash |
| Synonyms: | absolve, clarify, clean, clear, disinfect, expurgate, launder, purge, purify, refine, restore, rinse, sanitize, scour, scrub, sterilize, depurgate, lustrate |
| Antonyms: | dirty, soil, spot |
| Main Entry: | exculpate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | forgive |
| Synonyms: | absolve, acquit, amnesty, clear, condone, discharge, dismiss, excuse, exonerate, explain, free, justify, let off*, pardon, rationalize, release, remit, vindicate, disculpate, wipe slate clean |
| Antonyms: | blame, condemn, sentence |
* = informal/non-formal usage
| Main Entry: | exonerate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | excuse, clear of responsibility or blame |
| Synonyms: | absolve, acquit, discharge, dismiss, except, exculpate, exempt, free, justify, let off*, liberate, pardon, release, relieve, sanitize, vindicate, whitewash*, disburden, let off hook, wipe slate clean |
| Antonyms: | accuse, blame, charge, condemn, incarcerate, incriminate, sentence |
* = informal/non-formal usage
| Main Entry: | expiate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | make amends for |
| Synonyms: | absolve, amend, appease, atone, atone for, compensate, correct, do penance, excuse, forgive, pay one's dues, rectify, redeem, redress, remedy, square things |
| Main Entry: | forgive |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | stop blame and grant pardon |
| Synonyms: | absolve, acquit, amnesty, bear with, bury the hatchet*, clear, commute, condone, efface, exculpate, excuse, exempt, exonerate, extenuate, forget, let off*, overlook, palliate, pocket, purge, release, relent, remit, reprieve, respite, spring, accept apology, allow for, bear no malice, dismiss from mind, kiss and make up, laugh off, let bygones be bygones, let it go, let off easy, let pass, let up on, make allowance, think no more of, turn other cheek, wink at*, wipe slate clean |
| Antonyms: | accuse, blame, censure, charge, punish |
* = informal/non-formal usage
| Main Entry: | justify |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | legitimize, substantiate |
| Synonyms: | absolve, acquit, advocate, alibi*, answer for, approve, assert, bear out, brief, claim, clear, condone, confirm, contend, cop a plea, countenance, crawl, defend, establish, exculpate, excuse, exonerate, explain, favor, legalize, maintain, palliate, pardon, plead, rationalize, rebut, square, support, sustain, uphold, validate, verify, vindicate, warrant, apologize for, argue for, be answerable for, do justice to, make allowances, make good, show cause, speak in favor, stand up for |
* = informal/non-formal usage
| Main Entry: | let off |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | make not subject to punishment or action |
| Synonyms: | abandon, absolve, discharge, dispense, drop, excuse, exempt, exonerate, forgive, pardon, release, relieve, remove, spare, let go, privilege from |
| Antonyms: | blame, incarcerate, punish |
| Main Entry: | pardon |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | forgive |
| Synonyms: | absolve, accept, acquit, amnesty, bury the hatchet*, clear, condone, discharge, exculpate, excuse, exonerate, free, justify, let off*, liberate, overlook, release, remit, reprieve, rescue, spring*, tolerate, write off*, blink at, give absolution, grant amnesty, let off easy, lifeboat, suspend charges, wink at*, wipe slate clean |
| Antonyms: | chastise, condemn, damn, ostracize, penalize, punish |
* = informal/non-formal usage
| Main Entry: | purge |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | rid of; clean out |
| Synonyms: | abolish, absolve, clarify, cleanse, clear, disabuse, dismiss, dispose of, do away with*, eject, eradicate, erase, excrete, exonerate, expel, expiate, expunge, exterminate, forgive, kill, liquidate, oust, pardon, prevent, purify, remove, unload, wash, wipe out, depurate, rout out, shake out, sweep out, wipe off map |
| Antonyms: | hold, keep, maintain |
* = informal/non-formal usage
| Main Entry: | purify |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | free; make clean |
| Synonyms: | absolve, aerate, atone, chasten, clarify, clean, cleanse, clear, decontaminate, deodorize, disinfect, exculpate, exonerate, expiate, filter, fumigate, oxygenate, purge, redeem, refine, remit, sanctify, sanitize, shrive, sublimate, wash, aerify, depurate, deterge, edulcorate, elutriate, lustrate, rarify |
| Antonyms: | adulterate, corrupt, dirty, pollute |
| Main Entry: | release |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | let go, let out |
| Synonyms: | absolve, acquit, bail out, clear, commute, deliver, discharge, disengage, dispense, drop, emancipate, exculpate, excuse, exempt, exonerate, extricate, free, give off, issue, leak, let off, liberate, loose, loosen, spring, surrender, turn out, undo, unfasten, unleash, untie, vent, yield, cast loose, give out, go easy on, let off steam, let up on, manumit, open up, set at large, set free, set loose, take out, turn loose, unbind, unchain, unfetter, unloose, unshackle, wipe slate clean |
| Antonyms: | collect, gather, hold, keep, maintain |
| Main Entry: | reprieve |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | relieve of blame, responsibility |
| Synonyms: | abate, absolve, allay, alleviate, amnesty, excuse, forgive, let off, mitigate, palliate, pardon, postpone, remit, respite, grant a stay, let go, let off the hook, let off this time, let up on |
| Antonyms: | accusation, blame |
| Main Entry: | sanctify |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | hold in highest esteem |
| Synonyms: | absolve, anoint, bless, cleanse, consecrate, dedicate, deify, enshrine, glorify, hallow, purify, worship, set apart |
| Antonyms: | desecrate, dishonor, disrespect |
| Main Entry: | vindicate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | prove one's innocence |
| Synonyms: | absolve, acquit, advocate, argue, assert, bear out, claim, clear, confute, contend, corroborate, defend, disprove, establish, exculpate, excuse, exonerate, extenuate, free, guard, justify, maintain, protect, prove, rationalize, refute, rehabilitate, second, shield, substantiate, support, uphold, warrant, whitewash*, disculpate, do justice to, free from blame, plead for |
| Antonyms: | accuse, blame, convict, punish, sentence |
* = informal/non-formal usage
| Main Entry: | acquit |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | announce removal of blame |
| Synonyms: | absolve, clear, deliver, discharge, exculpate, excuse, exonerate, free, let off, liberate, release, relieve, vindicate, whitewash*, blink at, disculpate, let go, let off the hook, wink at*, wipe off |
| Antonyms: | blame, censure, condemn, convict, damn, denounce, doom, sentence |
* = informal/non-formal usage
| Main Entry: | bless |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | sanctify |
| Synonyms: | absolve, anoint, baptize, beatify, canonize, commend, confirm, consecrate, cross, dedicate, enshrine, eulogize, exalt, extol, glorify, hallow, honor, laud, magnify, offer, ordain, praise, sacrifice, sign, sprinkle, thank, give thanks to, invoke benefits, invoke happiness, make holy, offer benediction, panegyrize, pray for, pronounce holy |
| Antonyms: | condemn, curse, damn |
| Main Entry: | discharge |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | set free |
| Synonyms: | absolve, acquit, clear, dismiss, emancipate, exonerate, expel, liberate, loose, loosen, oust, pardon, release, allow to go, disimprison, manumit, unbind, unchain, unshackle |
| Antonyms: | detain, hold, imprison, keep |
| Main Entry: | free |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | liberate, let go |
| Synonyms: | absolve, acquit, bail, bail out*, clear, cut loose*, deliver, demobilize, discharge, disengage, dismiss, emancipate, enfranchise, extricate, let off*, loose, loosen, pardon, parole, ransom, redeem, release, relieve, reprieve, rescue, save, spring*, turn out, undo, unleash, untie, disenthrall, disimprison, let loose, let off the hook, let out, manumit, put on the street, set free, turn loose, unbind, uncage, unchain, unfetter, unfix |
| Antonyms: | confine, enslave, hold, incarcerate, restrain |
* = informal/non-formal usage
Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition
Copyright © 2009 by the Philip Lief Group.
Cite This Source
Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition
Copyright © 2009 by the Philip Lief Group.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2009, Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
