exculpation
/,ekskʌl'peiʃn/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- The act of freeing someone from guilt or blame: The process of officially or formally declaring that someone is not responsible for a fault or crime.
- A defense or justification for offensive behavior or a failure: A statement or argument that attempts to explain and excuse a person's actions or inactions.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- The lawyer's presentation of new evidence led to the full exculpation of her client.
- His lengthy exculpation for missing the deadline was met with skepticism by his manager.
Advanced Usage
- "Self-exculpation": The act of attempting to free oneself from blame or guilt.
- The politician's memoir was criticized as an exercise in self-exculpation rather than a true apology.
Variants and Related Words
- Exculpate (verb): To clear from a charge of guilt or fault; to prove or declare innocent.
- The investigation exculpated the official from any wrongdoing.
- Exculpatory (adjective): Tending to clear someone from alleged guilt or fault.
- The defense presented exculpatory evidence to the jury.
Synonyms
- Acquittal: A judgment that a person is not guilty of the crime with which they have been charged.
- Vindication: The action of clearing someone of blame or suspicion.
- Absolution: Formal release from guilt, obligation, or punishment.
Antonyms
- Incrimination: The act of charging someone with a crime; blaming.
- Condemnation: The expression of very strong disapproval; censure.
- Conviction: A formal declaration that someone is guilty of a criminal offense.
Noun
- the act of freeing from guilt or blame
- a defense of some offensive behavior or some failure to keep a promise etc.
- he kept finding excuses to stay
- every day he had a new alibi for not getting a job
- his transparent self-justification was unacceptable