| 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, disculpate, disprove, do justice to, establish, exculpate, excuse, exonerate, extenuate, free, free from blame, guard, justify, maintain, plead for, protect, prove, rationalize, refute, rehabilitate, second, shield, substantiate, support, uphold, warrant, whitewash |
Antonyms: |
accuse, blame, convict, punish, 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: | advocate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | support idea or cause publicly |
Synonyms: |
advance, advise, argue for, back, be in corner, bless, bolster, boost*, brace up, build up, campaign for, champion, countenance, defend, encourage, favor, further, get on bandwagon, give a leg up, give a lift, go for, go to bat for, go with, hold with, justify, plead for, plug*, plump for, press for, promote, propose, push, recommend, ride shotgun for, root for, run interference for, say so, side, speak for, spread around, stump for, support, tout, uphold, urge, vindicate |
Antonyms: |
assail, attack, criticize, impugn, oppose, protest |
| Main Entry: | argue |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | try to convince; present support |
Synonyms: |
appeal, assert, attest, claim, contend, controvert, defend, demonstrate, denote, display, elucidate, establish, evince, exhibit, explain, hold, imply, indicate, justify, maintain, manifest, persuade, plead, present, prevail upon, reason, show, suggest, talk into, testify, vindicate, warrant, witness |
Antonyms: |
agree, comply |
| Main Entry: | assert |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | insist, declare, maintain |
Synonyms: |
advance, affirm, allege, argue, asservate, attest, aver, avouch, avow, butt in, cite, claim, contend, defend, horn in, justify, mouth off, pop off, predicate, press, proclaim, profess, pronounce, protest, put forward, say, shoot off one's mouth, shoot one's wad, stand up for, state, stress, swear, uphold, vindicate, warrant |
Antonyms: |
deny, reject |
| Main Entry: | avenge |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | retaliate |
Synonyms: |
chasten, chastise, come back at, even the score, get back at, get even, payback, punish, redress, repay, requite, retribute, revenge, stick it to, take satisfaction, take vengeance, venge, vindicate |
| Main Entry: | bear out |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | substantiate |
Synonyms: |
authenticate, confirm, corroborate, endorse, justify, prove, substantiate, support, uphold, validate, verify, vindicate |
| Main Entry: | challenge |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | dispute, question |
Synonyms: |
accost, arouse, ask for, assert, beard, brave, call for, call out, claim, confront, cross, dare, defy, demand, denounce, exact, face down, face off, face the music, fly in the face of, hang in, impeach, impose, impugn, inquire, insist upon, investigate, invite competition, make a point of, make a stand, object to, provoke, query, reclaim, require, search out, stand up to, stick it out, stimulate, summon, tax, test, throw down the gauntlet, try, vindicate |
Antonyms: |
agreement, answer, decision, victory |
| Main Entry: | claim |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | demand, maintain property or right |
Synonyms: |
adduce, advance, allege, ask, assert, believe, call for, challenge, collect, declare, defend, exact, have dibs on something, hit, hit up, hold, hold out for, insist, justify, knock, lay claim to, need, pick up, pop the question, postulate, pretend, profess, pronounce, require, requisition, solicit, stake out, take, uphold, vindicate |
Antonyms: |
deny, disclaim, question |