as in pardon
a setting free from a charge of wrongdoing
the accused refused a plea bargain, asserting that he was innocent and would settle for nothing less than complete exoneration
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Recent Examples of exoneration
Under the new district attorney, Ken Thompson, Brooklyn became the pioneer in conviction review, leading to more than three dozen exonerations.
—
John O’Hara, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026
The story was based on an inconclusive, preliminary finding by ballistics experts and led to speculation about Robinson’s possible exoneration.
—Matthew Brown, Chicago Tribune, 18 Apr. 2026
The story was based on an inconclusive, preliminary finding by ballistics experts and led to speculation about Robinson's possible exoneration.
—ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
The organization previously helped secure Yarris’ exoneration.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 2026
The exoneration comes 15 years after he was released from prison.
—Jennifer Bisram, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
Florida has the highest number of death row exonerations in the nation, with 30.
—Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2026
As a trial judge, he was known for emphasizing rehabilitation and alternative sentencing and presided over proceedings that led to the posthumous exoneration of Tim Cole.
—Austin Sanders, Austin American Statesman, 18 Mar. 2026
The country had yet to hold the first Marcos to account for plunder and human-rights abuses, and this election seemed an exoneration of both his and Rodrigo Duterte’s sins.
—Sheila Coronel, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026
John O’Hara, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026
The story was based on an inconclusive, preliminary finding by ballistics experts and led to speculation about Robinson’s possible exoneration.
—Matthew Brown, Chicago Tribune, 18 Apr. 2026
The story was based on an inconclusive, preliminary finding by ballistics experts and led to speculation about Robinson's possible exoneration.
—ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
The organization previously helped secure Yarris’ exoneration.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 2026
The exoneration comes 15 years after he was released from prison.
—Jennifer Bisram, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
Florida has the highest number of death row exonerations in the nation, with 30.
—Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2026
As a trial judge, he was known for emphasizing rehabilitation and alternative sentencing and presided over proceedings that led to the posthumous exoneration of Tim Cole.
—Austin Sanders, Austin American Statesman, 18 Mar. 2026
The country had yet to hold the first Marcos to account for plunder and human-rights abuses, and this election seemed an exoneration of both his and Rodrigo Duterte’s sins.
—Sheila Coronel, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exoneration
Noun
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McCrory also floated the possibility of Henry starting a new program at Blue Hills to help people obtain judicial pardons.—
Andrew Brown,
Hartford Courant,
27 Apr. 2026
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Herzog has been under intense pressure both to issue a pardon from Netanyahu’s supporters and to deny him one from his opponents and those worried about equality under the law.—
Galit Altstein,
Bloomberg,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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At the end of regret-flow plotlines, husbands tend to beg their wives for forgiveness by dropping to their knees.—
Chang Che,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
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In South Texas, blood runs deeper, forgiveness is fleeting, and the cost of survival might just be your soul, per the logline.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The defining moment of San Francisco getting mixed up with Cincinnati was when left-hander Erik Miller struck out rookie Sal Stewart to end last Thursday’s game, then subsequently ignited a benches-clearing brouhaha.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
24 Apr. 2026
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With a blend of atmospheric beatmaking, gauzy harmonies, and impressionistic songwriting, Quiet Light’s music casts a distinct spell, like stumbling upon Imogen Heap in a forest clearing or imagining a Taylor Swift album produced by Harold Budd.—
Harry Tafoya,
Pitchfork,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The case went to trial in 2005, lasted three months, and eventually ended with Jackson’s acquittal on all charges.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
23 Apr. 2026
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Read’s acquittal, however, was not the end of the story.—
Flint McColgan,
Boston Herald,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Vinyl vindication The event comes as spending on vinyl continues to climb, even as streaming has become the dominant format for music listening.—
Mike Snider,
USA Today,
17 Apr. 2026
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As such, the museum serves as a space of historical vindication for an artist who struggled, rock hammer in hand, against mountainous odds.—
Tyehimba Jess,
ARTnews.com,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Exoneration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exoneration. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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