- 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
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vin•di•cate /ˈvɪndɪˌkeɪt/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object]-cat•ed-cat•ing.
vin•di•ca•torn. [countable]See -venge-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- to clearas from an accusation or suspicion:to vindicate someone's honor.
- to prove to be right or correct:His theory was vindicated by laboratory tests.
vin•di•ca•torn. [countable]See -venge-.
vin•di•cate
(vin′di kāt′),USA pronunciation v.t., -cat•ed-cat•ing.
vin′di•ca′torn.
- to clearas from an accusationimputationsuspicionor the like:to vindicate someone's honor.
- to afford justification for;
justify:Subsequent events vindicated his policy. - to uphold or justify by argument or evidence:to vindicate a claim.
- to assertmaintainor defend (a rightcauseetc.) against opposition.
- to claim for oneself or another.
- Law[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. - [Obs.]to deliver from;
liberate. - [Obs.]to punish.
- 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 -ate1
- 1525–35
- 1. exonerate. 3. 4. support.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
vindicate /ˈvɪndɪˌkeɪt/ vb (transitive)
'vindicate' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
avenge
- exculpate
- excuse
- justify
- revenge
- vendetta
- vengeance
- vindication
- vindictive
- clear
- defend
- exonerate
- maintain
- venge
- vindicable
- vindicatory
- whitewash