disculpate
Definition
- Verb:
- To clear from blame or fault: "Disculpate" means to exonerate or prove someone is not guilty of an accusation or wrongdoing. It is a formal or literary term, rarely used in everyday speech.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- The lawyer managed to disculpate her client by presenting new evidence. (The lawyer cleared her client of blame.)
- He tried to disculpate himself from the scandal, but the public remained suspicious. (He attempted to prove he was not at fault.)
Advanced Usage
- "to disculpate oneself": to defend or justify one's own actions to avoid blame.
- In his memoir, the politician sought to disculpate himself for the failed policy. (He tried to explain why he was not responsible.)
Variants and Related Words
Disculpation (n): the act or process of clearing someone from blame.
- The disculpation of the accused required a thorough investigation. (The clearing of the accused of blame.)
Disculpatory (adj): serving to clear from blame.
- The disculpatory evidence was submitted to the court. (The evidence that exonerated the defendant.)
Synonyms
- Exonerate: to officially absolve someone from blame.
- Exculpate: to show or declare that someone is not guilty of wrongdoing.
- Vindicate: to clear someone of suspicion or criticism.
Antonyms
- Inculpate: to accuse or blame someone.
- Implicate: to show that someone is involved in a crime.
Related Idioms
- To get off the hook: to be freed from blame or obligation (informal).
- His alibi got him off the hook for the theft. (He was cleared of blame.)
Phrasal Verbs
- Clear of: to prove someone is not guilty.
- The evidence cleared him of all charges. (The evidence disculpated him.)
Notes on Usage
- "Disculpate" is a rare, formal word; in everyday English, "exonerate" or "exculpate" are more common. It is most often found in legal, academic, or literary contexts.