exonerate Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb pronounce not guilty of criminal charges
    exculpate; acquit; clear; discharge; assoil.
    • The suspect was cleared of the murder charges

WordNet

Ex*on"er*ate transitive verb
Etymology
L. exoneratus, p. p. of exonerare to free from a burden; ex out, from onerare to load, onus load. See Onerous.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Exonerated ; present participle & verbal noun Exonerating
Definitions
  1. To unload; to disburden; to discharge. Obs.
    All exonerate themselves into one common duct. Ray.
  2. To relieve, in a moral sense, as of a charge, obligation, or load of blame resting on one; to clear of something that lies upon oppresses one, as an accusation or imputation; as, to exonerate one's self from blame, or from the charge of avarice. Burke.
  3. To discharge from duty or obligation, as a ball. Syn>- To absolve; acquit; exculpate. See Absolve.

Webster 1913