Exonerates

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Frees someone from blame or wrongdoing by proving innocence
2. Removes accusations or suspicion from a person by confirming they are not guilty
3. Declares a person free of responsibility for a fault or mistake after investigation

Etymology: "Exonerates" is the third-person singular form of "exonerate", which means to clear someone of blame. The verb comes from Latin "exonerare", literally "to unload" or "to free from a burden": its parts are "ex-" meaning "out" and "onerare", "to load", from "onus", a burden. So the core image is lifting a weight off someone's back, and the sense of blame is a figurative extension of that physical act. English borrowed the word from Latin's past participle "exoneratus" in the Middle Ages, and it was used at first in its literal sense of unloading or discharging. The legal and moral meaning of clearing a person of an accusation grew from there, so the modern use is the older physical idea carried over into the courtroom and the conscience.

Synonyms: absolves, vindicates, clears, acquits

Antonyms: accuses, blames, condemns