absolve themselves of

USAGE SUMMARY

'absolve themselves of' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used when someone is looking to free themselves from responsibility or blame. For example: "The members of the team tried to absolve themselves of any fault in the project's failure."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

But they can't absolve themselves of responsibility by blaming the other".

Independent

White professionals, particularly managers, could not be allowed to absolve themselves of responsibility by hiding behind concerns about cultural sensitivity.

The Guardian

The judge accused Bank of America and the S.E.C. of concocting the settlement to effectively absolve themselves of further responsibility.

The New York Times

"This is a chance for them to absolve themselves of any controversy or notoriety their careers might have," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

ZX, Hove, East Sussex "Extraordinary circumstances" is the magic wand airlines like to wave to absolve themselves of liability.

The Guardian - Money

In absolving Hirohito, MacArthur not only gave the Japanese people back their emperor, but allowed them collectively to absolve themselves of all responsibility in the process.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

Both TSB and Barclays have absolved themselves of any blame, while calling into question the behaviour of the other.

The Guardian - Money

Or, in what could be an even worse prospect, might they contrive to scapegoat Milosevic and the others as fiendish con artists who led them astray, thereby absolving themselves of any responsibility of their own?

The New Yorker

More powerful is her argument that there has been a failure of imagination among a generation of progressives, who have steadfastly absolved themselves of racial bias, convinced that they don't "see colour".

The Guardian - Books

Environmentalists fear that companies are "absolving themselves of guilt for making gas guzzlers or being energy hogs," as Daniel F. Becker, the director of the Sierra Club's global warming program, put it.

The New York Times

But it will take a strong performance tonight against the Washington Wizards (1-1) for the Knicks (1-1) to continue absolving themselves of the sting of their worst season-opening loss.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When employing the phrase, ensure the context clearly indicates what specific responsibility or blame the subjects are trying to avoid.

Common error

Avoid using "absolve themselves of" when the subjects do not have the actual authority or means to release themselves from the stated responsibility. The action of absolving requires a degree of agency or influence over the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "absolve themselves of" functions as a reflexive verb phrase, indicating that the subject is both performing and receiving the action of absolving. This implies an attempt to free oneself from blame, responsibility, or obligation. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness of this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Formal & Business

17%

Science

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "absolve themselves of" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression that conveys the act of attempting to free oneself from blame or responsibility. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable. It typically appears in neutral to formal contexts, particularly within news and media, formal business settings, and scientific discussions. While synonyms such as "evade their responsibility" or "shirk their responsibility" exist, the core meaning of escaping accountability remains consistent. Remember to consider the context to ensure correct usage, especially regarding the agency of those attempting to absolve themselves.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

evade their responsibility

Focuses on avoiding duty or obligation, rather than explicitly removing blame.

shirk their responsibility

Emphasizes neglecting or avoiding responsibility, often implying a moral failing.

disclaim accountability

Highlights a formal denial of responsibility for actions or outcomes.

escape blame

Centers on avoiding negative consequences or censure.

exonerate themselves from

Implies proving oneself innocent of wrongdoing or fault.

vindicate themselves from

Suggests clearing oneself from suspicion or accusation through evidence or justification.

shift the blame

Highlights the action of attributing responsibility to someone else.

pass the buck

An idiomatic way of saying to shift responsibility to someone else.

duck responsibility

Emphasizes quickly avoiding taking responsibility.

wash their hands of

An idiomatic expression indicating a refusal to take further responsibility.

FAQs

How can I use "absolve themselves of" in a sentence?

You can use "absolve themselves of" to describe a situation where individuals or groups attempt to free themselves from blame or responsibility. For example: "The company tried to absolve themselves of any fault in the environmental disaster."

What is a synonym for "absolve themselves of"?

Alternatives to "absolve themselves of" include "evade their responsibility", "shirk their responsibility", or "disclaim accountability", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "absolve them of responsibility" instead of "absolve themselves of responsibility"?

Yes, "absolve them of responsibility" is correct, but it implies that someone else is absolving them, whereas "absolve themselves of responsibility" indicates they are trying to free themselves.

What's the difference between "absolve themselves of" and "excuse themselves from"?

"Absolve themselves of" implies removing blame or guilt, while "excuse themselves from" simply means withdrawing from a task or situation. Therefore, "excuse themselves from" something doesn't necessarily involve blame.