| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | relieve, absolve |
| Synonyms: | clear, discharge, dispense, except, excuse, exonerate, free, go easy on, grant immunity, let off the hook, let off, liberate, pass by, privilege from, release, spare, wipe the slate, write off |
| Antonyms: | blame |
| Main Entry: | absolve |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Main Entry: | except |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | leave out |
| Synonyms: | ban, bar, bate, count out, debar, disallow, eliminate, exclude, exempt, expostulate, inveigh, object, omit, pass over, protest, reject, remonstrate, rule out, suspend, taboo |
| Notes: | accept is 'take or agree to' and except means 'exclude, leave out' |
| Antonyms: | admit, allow, include |
| Main Entry: | excuse |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | forgive, absolve; justify |
| Synonyms: | acquit, alibi, apologize for, appease, bear with, clear, condone, cover, defend, discharge, dispense from, exculpate, exempt, exempt from, exonerate, explain, extenuate, forgive, free, give absolution, grant amnesty, indulge, let go, let off, liberate, make allowances for, mitigate, overlook, pardon, pass over, plead ignorance, pretext, purge, rationalize, release, relieve, remit, reprieve, shrive, shrug off, spare, take rap for, tolerate, vindicate, whitewash, wink at |
| Notes: | an alias is an assumed name, an alibi is a form of defense whereby a defendant attempts to prove that he or she was elsewhere when the crime in question was committed, while an excuse is an explanation offered to justify or obtain forgiveness a pardon is the act of excusing a mistake or offense; an excuse is an explanation offered to justify or obtain forgiveness |
| Main Entry: | exonerate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | excuse, clear of responsibility or blame |
| Synonyms: | absolve, acquit, disburden, discharge, dismiss, except, exculpate, exempt, free, justify, let off hook, let off, liberate, pardon, release, relieve, sanitize, vindicate, whitewash, wipe slate clean |
| Notes: | to exculpate is 'to free from accusation or blame' while exonerate is literally 'to free from a burden' |
| Antonyms: | accuse, blame, charge, condemn, incarcerate, incriminate, sentence |
| Main Entry: | forgive |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | stop blame and grant pardon |
| Synonyms: | absolve, accept apology, acquit, allow for, amnesty, bear no malice, bear with, bury the hatchet, clear, commute, condone, dismiss from mind, efface, exculpate, excuse, exempt, exonerate, extenuate, forget, kiss and make up, laugh off, let bygones be bygones, let it go, let off easy, let off, let pass, let up on, make allowance, overlook, palliate, pocket, purge, release, relent, remit, reprieve, respite, spring, think no more of, turn other cheek, wink at, wipe slate clean |
| Antonyms: | accuse, blame, censure, charge, punish |
| Main Entry: | free |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | take burden from |
| Synonyms: | cast off, clear, cut loose, decontaminate, deliver, discharge, disembarrass, disencumber, disengage, disentangle, empty, excuse, exempt, extricate, put off, ransom, redeem, relieve, rescue, rid, unburden, undo, unlade, unload, unpack, unshackle |
| Antonyms: | burden, compel, limit, suppress |
| Main Entry: | let off |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | make not subject to punishment or action |
| Synonyms: | abandon, absolve, discharge, dispense, drop, excuse, exempt, exonerate, forgive, let go, pardon, privilege from, release, relieve, remove, spare |
| Antonyms: | blame, incarcerate, punish |