Nearby Words
| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | free from responsibility, duty |
| Synonyms: | acquit, bleach, blink at, clear, discharge, exculpate, excuse, exempt, exonerate, forgive, free, go easy on, launder, let off easy, let off the hook, let off, let up on, liberate, lifeboat, loose, pardon, release, relieve, sanitize, set free, spare, spring*, vindicate, whitewash, wink at, wipe it off, wipe the slate clean, write off |
| Notes: | one is absolved of blame or responsibility but is acquitted of a charge, usually a crime |
| Antonyms: | bind, blame, charge, condemn, convict, hold, impeach, incriminate, obligate, punish, sentence |
* = informal/non-formal usage
| Main Entry: | atone |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | compensate; make amends for former misdoing |
| Synonyms: | absolve, answer, apologize, appease, balance, correct, counterbalance, do penance, expiate, make amends, make redress, make reparation, make up for, offset, outweigh, pay, pay one's dues, propitiate, recompense, reconcile, redeem, redress, repair, set off, square, take one's medicine |
| Main Entry: | bless |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | sanctify |
| Synonyms: | absolve, anoint, baptize, beatify, canonize, commend, confirm, consecrate, cross, dedicate, enshrine, eulogize, exalt, extol, give thanks to, glorify, hallow, honor, invoke benefits, invoke happiness, laud, magnify, make holy, offer, offer benediction, ordain, panegyrize, praise, pray for, pronounce holy, sacrifice, sign, sprinkle, thank |
| Antonyms: | condemn, curse, damn |
| Main Entry: | cleanse |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | make undirty; wash |
| Synonyms: | absolve, clarify, clean, clear, depurgate, disinfect, expurgate, launder, lustrate, purge, purify, refine, restore, rinse, sanitize, scour, scrub, sterilize |
| Antonyms: | dirty, soil, spot |
| Main Entry: | clear |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | liberate; free from uncertainty |
| Synonyms: | absolve, acquit, clarify, defog, discharge, disculpate, emancipate, exculpate, exonerate, explain, find innocent, let go, let off, let off the hook, release, relieve, set free, vindicate |
| Antonyms: | condemn, find guilty, sentence |
| Main Entry: | discharge |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | set free |
| Synonyms: | absolve, acquit, allow to go, clear, disimprison, dismiss, emancipate, exonerate, expel, liberate, loose, loosen, manumit, oust, pardon, release, unbind, unchain, unshackle |
| Antonyms: | detain, hold, imprison, keep |
| Main Entry: | discharge |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | dismiss from responsibility |
| Synonyms: | absolve, ax, boot out, bounce, bump, bust, can*, cashier, disburden, discard, disencumber, dispense, displace, eject, excuse, exempt, expel, fire, freeze out, give one notice, kick out, lay off, let go, let off, let one go, let out, lock out, nix, oust, privilege from, relieve, remove, replace, ride out on rail, run out of town, show the door, spare, supersede, supplant, terminate, unload |
| Antonyms: | assign, delegate, employ, engage, hire |
* = informal/non-formal usage
| Main Entry: | dispense |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | exempt from responsibility |
| Synonyms: | absolve, discharge, except, excuse, exonerate, let off, privilege from, release, relieve, reprieve, spare |
| Main Entry: | exculpate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | forgive |
| Synonyms: | absolve, acquit, amnesty, clear, condone, discharge, disculpate, dismiss, excuse, exonerate, explain, free, justify, let off, pardon, rationalize, release, remit, vindicate, wipe slate clean |
| Notes: | to exculpate is 'to free from accusation or blame' while exonerate is literally 'to free from a burden' |
| Antonyms: | blame, condemn, sentence |
Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition
Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
