Vindicate
mediumPositive toneVIN-dih-kayt
verb
Definition
To clear someone of blame or suspicion; to show or prove to be right
Memory hook
VINDI-CATE: The VIN diesel of justice -- cleared of blame, proven right!
Word roots
vindicare— to claim, avenge, free(Latin)
Learning roots unlocks whole word families. Study common GRE root words.
Examples
“The new evidence vindicated the accused man.”
“Her success vindicated her decision to change careers.”
Test yourself
Fill in the blank with the right word:
“The new evidence ______ the accused man.”
Show answer
vindicated
Synonyms
Antonyms
incriminateconvictblamecondemn
Categories
GRE Tip
Vindicate is a medium-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "exonerate" or "absolve" 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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