vindicate
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to clearas from an accusationimputationsuspicionor the like.
to vindicate someone's honor.
- Synonyms:
- exonerate
-
to afford justification for; justify.
Subsequent events vindicated his policy.
-
to uphold or justify by argument or evidence.
to vindicate a claim.
- Synonyms:
- substantiate
-
to assertmaintainor defend (a rightcauseetc.) against opposition.
- Synonyms:
- substantiate
-
to claim for oneself or another.
-
Roman and Civil Law. to regain possessionunder claim of title of property through legal procedureor to assert one's right to possession.
-
to get revenge for; avenge.
-
Obsolete. to deliver from; liberate.
-
Obsolete. to punish.
verb
-
to clear from guiltaccusationblameetcas by evidence or argument
-
to provide justification for
his promotion vindicated his unconventional attitude
-
to upholdmaintainor defend (a causeetc)
to vindicate a claim
-
Roman law to bring an action to regain possession of (property) under claim of legal title
-
rare to claimas for oneself or another
-
obsolete to take revenge on or for; punish
-
obsolete to set free
Other Word Forms
- revindicate verb (used with object)
- self-vindicated adjective
- self-vindicating adjective
- unvindicated adjective
- vindicator noun
- vindicatory adjective
Etymology
Origin of vindicate
First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin vindicātus (past participle of vindicāre “to lay legal claim to (property); to free (someone) from servitude (by claiming him as free); to protectavengepunish),“ equivalent to vindic- (stem of vindex “claimantprotectoravenger”) + -ātus -ate 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Stopping the war weeks short would vindicate their Hormuz strategy.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 262026
The need "to punish the club and to vindicate those clubs who have complied with the relevant rules" is referenced.
From BBC • Mar. 172026
Megan notes that the data vindicate Fed officials’ decision to keep interest rates steady at the January meeting.
From Barron's • Feb. 122026
“We are called upon by every consideration of duty and patriotism,” the president said“to vindicate with decision the honorthe rightsand the interests of our country.”
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 62026
Trouble arose only when authors used their stories to vindicate themselves against a great hurt or perceived injustice.
From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridgedbased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary© Random HouseInc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 200220011995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
