exonerate

Meaning

Verb

1. (archaic, transitive) To relieve (someone or something) of a load; to unburden (a load).
2. (obsolete, reflexive) Of a body of water: to discharge or empty (itself).
3. (transitive) To free (someone) from an obligation, responsibility or task.
4. (transitive) To free (someone) from accusation or blame.

Adj

Freed from an obligation; freed from accusation or blame; acquitted, exonerated.

Synonyms

acquit

exculpate

absolve

clear

discharge

vindicate

assoil

excuse

exempt

set free

affranchise

deliver

forgive

free

🆓

liberate

pardon

release

relieve

whiten

whitewash

indemnify

justify

let off

do justice to

liberated

loose

manumit

let go of

purify

redeem

make pure

assoilzie

remit

rescue

rid

run

decontrol

spell

unblock

unchain

uncork

unfreeze

alibi

emancipate

enfranchise

dispense

disengage

disencumber

extricate

Translations

exculpar

exonerar

exonérer

entlasten

αθωώνω

απαλλάσσω

sgravare

esonerare

inocentar

discolpare

assolvere

disculper

δικαιώνω

freistellen

freisprechen

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ɪɡˈzɒnəɹeɪt/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: exoneraten

Cognate with French: exonérer

In summary

From Middle English exoneraten (attested in past participle exonerated), from Latin exonerātus, past perfect participle of exonerō (“to discharge, unload; to exonerate”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix). Exonerō is from ex- (“out, from”) + onerō (“to burden, lade; to load”) further from onus (oner-) (“a burden, load”) + -ō (first conjugation verb-forming suffix), from Proto-Indo-European *h₃énh₂os (“burden, load”), from *h₃enh₂- (“to charge, onerate”). Compare French exonérer.