Exculpate vs. Exonerate — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Exculpate and Exonerate
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Definitions
Exculpate
Show or declare that (someone) is not guilty of wrongdoing
The article exculpated the mayor
Exonerate
(of an official body) absolve (someone) from blame for a fault or wrongdoing
They should exonerate these men from this crime
An inquiry exonerated those involved
Exculpate
To clear of guilt or blame.
Exonerate
Release someone from (a duty or obligation)
Pope Clement V exonerated the king from his oath to the barons
Exculpate
To clear of or to free from guilt; exonerate.
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Exonerate
To free from blame.
Exculpate
To clear from alleged fault or guilt; to prove to be guiltless; to relieve of blame; to acquit.
He exculpated himself from being the author of the heroic epistle.
I exculpate him further for his writing against me.
Exonerate
To free from a responsibility, obligation, or task.
Exculpate
Pronounce not guilty of criminal charges;
The suspect was cleared of the murder charges
Exonerate
To relieve (someone or something) of a load; to unburden (a load).
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Exonerate
Of a body of water: to discharge or empty (itself).
Exonerate
(transitive) To free (someone) from an obligation, responsibility or task.
Exonerate
(transitive) To free (someone) from accusation or blame.
Exonerate
(archaic) Freed from an obligation; freed from accusation or blame; acquitted, exonerated.
Exonerate
To unload; to disburden; to discharge.
All exonerate themselves into one common duct.
Exonerate
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.
Exonerate
To discharge from duty or obligation, as a bail.
Exonerate
Pronounce not guilty of criminal charges;
The suspect was cleared of the murder charges
