as in to acquit
to free from a charge of wrongdoing
I will present evidence that will exculpate my client
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Recent Examples of exculpate
In a perverse circular logic, the crime itself can come to seem like the clearest evidence of the condition that is held up to exculpate the mother—and also like its own form of punishment.
—
Eren Orbey, The New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2024
The results of that closer analysis is what were released Monday — and still ultimately exculpated Cline.
—Courtney Tanner, The Salt Lake Tribune, 8 Aug. 2023
Now that Barry has accepted the death of his mother (Maribel Verdú) and successfully exculpated his father (Ron Livingston), the arc that has defined him on screen so far is resolved.
—Christian Holub, EW.com, 17 June 2023
The justices could also require that prosecutors show that the defendant acted with criminal intent, which could also exculpate certain edge cases.
—Matt Ford, The New Republic, 30 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for exculpate
Eren Orbey, The New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2024
The results of that closer analysis is what were released Monday — and still ultimately exculpated Cline.
—Courtney Tanner, The Salt Lake Tribune, 8 Aug. 2023
Now that Barry has accepted the death of his mother (Maribel Verdú) and successfully exculpated his father (Ron Livingston), the arc that has defined him on screen so far is resolved.
—Christian Holub, EW.com, 17 June 2023
The justices could also require that prosecutors show that the defendant acted with criminal intent, which could also exculpate certain edge cases.
—Matt Ford, The New Republic, 30 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for exculpate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exculpate
Verb
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Last year, both Karen Read, acquitted of killing her Boston cop boyfriend in June, and Sherri Papini, who served time for masterminding her own 2016 kidnapping in California, participated in documentaries about their cases.—
Savannah Walsh,
Vanity Fair,
18 June 2026
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The officer in that case was acquitted of criminal charges and found justified in his use of force by a review board.—
Travis Loller,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
Verb
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Years later, he's exonerated and released from prison, hell-bent on getting revenge on his former lawyer Anna Bowden and her prosecutor husband Tom, played by Amy Adams and Patrick Wilson.—
Benjamin VanHoose,
PEOPLE,
12 June 2026
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The case was dismissed after prosecutors failed to secure forensic evidence from Facebook that could have exonerated him.—
Jack Harvel,
Kansas City Star,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Exculpate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exculpate. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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