exculpate

• POS: Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: ex=cul=pate

CIDE DICTIONARY

exculpate, v. t. [L. ex out + culpatus, p. p. of culpare to find fault with, to blame, culpa fault. See Culpable.].

 To clear from alleged fault or guilt; to prove to be guiltless; to relieve of blame; to acquit.  [1913 Webster]
"He exculpated himself from being the author of the heroic epistle."  [1913 Webster]
"I exculpate him further for his writing against me."

Syn. -- To exonerate; absolve; clear; acquit; excuse; vindicate; justify.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

exculpate, v.tr. formal 1 free from blame.
2 (foll. by from) clear (a person) of a charge.

Derivative

exculpation n. exculpatory adj.

Etymology

med.L exculpare exculpat- (as EX-(1), culpa blame)

THESAURUS

exculpate

absolve, account for, acquit, amnesty, clear, condone, cry sour grapes, decontaminate, destigmatize, discharge, dismiss, dispense from, do justice to, excuse, exempt, exempt from, exonerate, explain, forgive, free, give absolution, grant amnesty to, grant forgiveness, grant immunity, grant remission, justify, let go, let off, nonpros, pardon, purge, quash the charge, rationalize, rehabilitate, reinstate, release, remit, restore, set free, shrive, spare, vindicate, warrant, whitewash, withdraw the charge

ROGET THESAURUS

exculpate

Acquittal

VB acquit, exculpate, exonerate, clear, absolve, whitewash, assoil, discharge, release, liberate, reprieve, respite, pardon, let off, let off scot- free, drop the charges, plea bargain, strike a deal, no-cause (in civil suits), get no-caused.

Vindication

N vindication, justification, warrant, exoneration, exculpation, acquittal, whitewashing, extenuation, palliation, palliative, softening, mitigation, reply, defense, recrimination, apology, gloss, varnish, plea, salvo, excuse, extenuating circumstances, allowance, allowance to be made, locus paenitentiae, apologist, vindicator, justifier, defendant, justifiable charge, true bill, v, justify, warrant, be an excuse for, lend a color, furnish a handle, vindicate, exculpate, disculpate, acquit, clear, set right, exonerate, whitewash, clear the skirts of, extenuate, palliate, excuse, soften, apologize, varnish, slur, gloze, put a gloss, put a good face upon, mince, gloss over, bolster up, help a lame dog over a stile, advocate, defend, plead one's cause, stand up for, stick up for, speak up for, contend for, speak for, bear out, keep in countenance, support, plead, say in defense, plead ignorance, confess and avoid, propugn, put in a good word for, take the will for the deed, make allowance for, give credit for, do justice to, give one his due, give the Devil his due, make good, prove the truth of, prove one's case, be justified by the event, vindicated, vindicating, exculpatory, apologetic, excusable, defensible, pardonable, venial, veniable, specious, plausible, justifiable, honi sot qui mal y pense, good wine needs no bush.

Innocence

VB be innocent, nil conscire sibi nulla pallescere culpa, acquit, exculpate.