Exculpate

hard

EK-skul-payt

verb

Definition

to clear from blame or guilt

Examples

New evidence served to exculpate the man wrongly held for years.
The report exculpated the captain, placing the fault elsewhere.

Synonyms

absolveacquitvindicateexonerate

Antonyms

incriminateblameconvictinculpate

Categories

GRE Tip

Exculpate is a hard-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "absolve" or "acquit" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "incriminate".

Related GRE Words

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