ex·on·er·ate
/iɡˈzänəˌrāt/
verb
verb: exonerate; 3rd person present: exonerates; past tense: exonerated; past participle: exonerated; gerund or present participle: exonerating
- 1.(especially of an official body) absolve (someone) from blame for a fault or wrongdoing, especially after due consideration of the case.”they should exonerate these men from this crime”Similar:absolveclearacquitdeclare innocentfind innocentpronounce not guiltydischargevindicateexculpateOpposite:chargeconvict
- 2.release someone from (a duty or obligation).”Pope Clement V exonerated the king from his oath to the barons”Similar:releasedischargerelievefreeliberateexcuseexemptexceptlet offdispenseOpposite:hold to
Origin

late Middle English: from Latin exonerat- ‘freed from a burden’, from the verb exonerare, from ex- ‘from’ + onus, oner- ‘a burden’.