Vindicate

Other forms: vindicated; vindicating; vindicates

Vindicate means to justify, prove, or reinforce an idea — or to absolve from guilt. If your family thinks you hogged the last piece of pie on Thanksgiving, you'll be vindicated when your younger brother fesses up.

Vindicate derives from the Latin vindicatus, which is the past tense of vindicare, meaning "lay claim to" or "avenge." When a physicist proves a theory that his colleagues derided, he vindicates it. When a lawyer clears her client's name in a trial, she vindicates him. Machiavelli argued that the results he got vindicated his tactics — in other words, the ends justified the means.

Definitions of vindicate

verb

show to be right by providing justification or proof

“vindicate a claim”

see moresee less

types:

legitimate

show or affirm to be just and legitimate

alibi

exonerate by means of an alibi

type of:

verb

clear of accusation, blame, suspicion, or doubt with supporting proof

“You must vindicate yourself and fight this libel”

see moresee less

type of:

verb

maintain, uphold, or defend

“vindicate the rights of the citizens”

see moresee less

type of:

Style:

MLA

MLAAPAChicago

"Vindicate." Vocabulary.com Dictionary, Vocabulary.com, https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/vindicate. Accessed 28 Nov. 2025.

Copy citation

Join the Vocabulary Bowl

The world's largest academic competition

Sign up now (it’s free!)

Whether you’re a teacher or a learner, Vocabulary.com can put you or your class on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement.

Get started

网址：Vindicate https://m.mxgxt.com/news/view/1911248

相关内容

名人演讲稿4篇

随便看看