Synonyms for acquittal
Most common
exoneration vindication pardon not guilty satisfaction requital completion
Synonyms by meaning
Noun
1. Exoneration — A legal decision that someone is not guilty with which they have been charged, or the formal dismissal of a…
exoneration, vindication, pardon, not guilty, forgiveness, release, remission, discharge, clearance, exculpation, clearing, quittance, disculpation, compurgation, absolution dated, acquittance dated, acquitment dated
2. Satisfaction — payment of a debt or other obligation; reparations, amends
satisfaction, requital, quittal dated
3. Completion — the act of fulfilling the duties (of a given role, obligation etc.)
completion, realization UK US, realisation UK, consummation, fulfillment US, fulfilment UK
Other
Definitions
- n. 1
The act of fulfilling the duties (of a given role, obligation etc.).
- n. 2
A legal decision that someone is not guilty with which they have been charged, or the formal dismissal of a charge by some other legal process.
The jury returned a verdict of acquittal.
- n. 3
Payment of a debt or other obligation; reparations, amends.
Forms
- Plural
- acquittals → exonerations, vindications, pardons, forgivenesses…
Choose the right word
Acquittal is a release from a charge, after trial, as not guilty. Acquittal is by the decision of a court, commonly of a jury; pardon is the act of the executive.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- pardon I beg your pardon; I didn't quite catch your name.
- vindication His enemy's failure in business was the ultimate vindication.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| acquittal | falling | |
| pardon | steady | |
| vindication | steady | |
| exoneration | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 6 letters
- pardon2
- 7 letters
- release2, quittal
- 8 letters
- clearing2, requital
- 9 letters
- clearance2, discharge2, remission3, quittance
- 10 letters
- completion3, observance3, fulfilment, absolution4, acquitment
- 11 letters
- forgiveness3, realization4, fulfillment3, realisation4, vindication4, exoneration5, exculpation, acquittance
- 12 letters
- satisfaction4, consummation4, disculpation, compurgation
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (pardon2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- acquittement
- Deutsch
- Absolution