| Main Entry: | exculpate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | forgive |
Synonyms: |
absolve, acquit, amnesty, clear, condone, discharge, disculpate, dismiss, excuse, exonerate, explain, free, justify, let off, pardon, rationalize, release, remit, vindicate, wipe slate clean |
| Notes: | to exculpate is 'to free from accusation or blame' while exonerate is literally 'to free from a burden' |
Antonyms: |
blame, condemn, sentence |
| Main Entry: | absolve |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | free from responsibility, duty |
Synonyms: |
acquit, bleach, blink at, clear, discharge, exculpate, excuse, exempt, exonerate, forgive, free, go easy on, launder, let off easy, let off the hook, let off, let up on, liberate, lifeboat, loose, pardon, release, relieve, sanitize, set free, spare, spring*, vindicate, whitewash, wink at, wipe it off, wipe the slate clean, write off |
| 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 |
| Main Entry: | acquit |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | announce removal of blame |
Synonyms: |
absolve, blink at, clear, deliver, discharge, disculpate, exculpate, excuse, exonerate, free, let go, let off, let off the hook, liberate, release, relieve, vindicate, whitewash, wink at, wipe off |
Antonyms: |
blame, censure, condemn, convict, damn, denounce, doom, sentence |
| Main Entry: | clear |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | liberate; free from uncertainty |
Synonyms: |
absolve, acquit, clarify, defog, discharge, disculpate, emancipate, exculpate, exonerate, explain, find innocent, let go, let off, let off the hook, release, relieve, set free, vindicate |
Antonyms: |
condemn, find guilty, sentence |
| Main Entry: | defend |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | show support for |
Synonyms: |
advocate, aid, apologize for, argue, assert, back, back up, bear one out, befriend, champion, come to defense of, cover for, endorse, espouse, exculpate, exonerate, explain, go to bat for, guarantee, justify, maintain, plead, prove a case, put in a good word, rationalize, recommend, ride shotgun for, say in defense, second, speak up for, stand by, stand up for, stick up for, stonewall, support, sustain, thump for, uphold, vindicate, warrant |
Antonyms: |
deny, forsake, renounce |
| Main Entry: | excuse |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | forgive, absolve; justify |
Synonyms: |
acquit, alibi, apologize for, appease, bear with, clear, condone, cover, defend, discharge, dispense from, exculpate, exempt, exempt from, exonerate, explain, extenuate, forgive, free, give absolution, grant amnesty, indulge, let go, let off, liberate, make allowances for, mitigate, overlook, pardon, pass over, plead ignorance, pretext, purge, rationalize, release, relieve, remit, reprieve, shrive, shrug off, spare, take rap for, tolerate, vindicate, whitewash, wink at |
| Main Entry: | exonerate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | excuse, clear of responsibility or blame |
Synonyms: |
absolve, acquit, disburden, discharge, dismiss, except, exculpate, exempt, free, justify, let off hook, let off, liberate, pardon, release, relieve, sanitize, vindicate, whitewash, wipe slate clean |
Antonyms: |
accuse, blame, charge, condemn, incarcerate, incriminate, sentence |
| Main Entry: | forgive |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | stop blame and grant pardon |
Synonyms: |
absolve, accept apology, acquit, allow for, amnesty, bear no malice, bear with, bury the hatchet, clear, commute, condone, dismiss from mind, efface, exculpate, excuse, exempt, exonerate, extenuate, forget, kiss and make up, laugh off, let bygones be bygones, let it go, let off easy, let off, let pass, let up on, make allowance, overlook, palliate, pocket, purge, release, relent, remit, reprieve, respite, spring, think no more of, turn other cheek, wink at, wipe slate clean |
Antonyms: |
accuse, blame, censure, charge, punish |
| Main Entry: | justify |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | legitimize, substantiate |
Synonyms: |
absolve, acquit, advocate, alibi, answer for, apologize for, approve, argue for, assert, be answerable for, bear out, brief, claim, clear, condone, confirm, contend, cop a plea, countenance, crawl, defend, do justice to, establish, exculpate, excuse, exonerate, explain, favor, legalize, maintain, make allowances, make good, palliate, pardon, plead, rationalize, rebut, show cause, speak in favor, square, stand up for, support, sustain, uphold, validate, verify, vindicate, warrant |
| Main Entry: | palliate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | gloss over; cover up |
Synonyms: |
abate, allay, alleviate, apologize for, assuage, camouflage, cloak, conceal, condone, cover, diminish, disguise, dissemble, ease, exculpate, excuse, extenuate, gloze, hide, hush up, justify, lessen, lighten, make light of, mask, minimize, mitigate, moderate, mollify, prettify, put on a Band-Aid, qualify, quick fix, relieve, screen, soften, soothe, sugarcoat, temper, varnish, veil, veneer, vindicate, white, whiten, whitewash |
Antonyms: |
accuse, blame, condemn |