absolve yourself of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "absolve yourself of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when someone wants to indicate that they are freeing themselves from blame or responsibility for something. Example: "After much reflection, she decided to absolve herself of any guilt regarding the situation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

"You cannot walk out your grief, I know," Thubron writes, "or absolve yourself of your survival, or bring anyone back.

The Guardian - Books

The most famous – and admittedly peculiar – custom that has developed around Yom Kippur involves swinging a chicken over your head three times to absolve yourself of sin.

Independent

When you're that wholly in thrall to your own heady promise, you exempt yourself from rules, absolve yourself of hypocrisy and persuade yourself that you'll get away with it all.

The New York Times

"Now the government have made us take another vote on this, you cannot absolve yourself of responsibility for making a decision," he said.

BBC

Just as you can't host a party of a few hundred people and absolve yourself of what happens during it, Zuckerberg can't host two billion users on Facebook and disown responsibility for what is said and done.

Forbes

You'll save loads of money, and you'll probably absolve yourself of some sins in the eyes of the Lord at the same time.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

"Happy Birthday!" says you care, but it can also say you're fulfilling some self-imposed duty, absolving yourself of guilt.

TechCrunch

But policing reactions this way means we're doing a version of the ice bucket challenge ourselves: Donate the whole of your focus now, or absolve yourself through an act of performative self-flagellation.

The Guardian - Opinion

And then you sort of absolve yourself".

The New Yorker

Because the truth is, "keeping it real" and "being yourself" can't absolve Yeezus of all his sins.

Vice

"I cannot absolve you of your sins".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "absolve yourself of" when you want to express a deliberate decision to no longer feel guilty or responsible for something. This phrase is best suited for situations where you have reflected on your involvement and consciously chosen to release yourself from its burden.

Common error

Avoid using "absolve yourself of" when the consequences of your actions are irreversible or when seeking absolution from others. This phrase denotes a personal decision, not external forgiveness or erasure of consequences. Instead, consider seeking forgiveness or taking responsibility for your actions.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "absolve yourself of" is a reflexive verb phrase. It describes the action of freeing oneself from a burden, guilt, or obligation. Ludwig provides several examples where this phrase is used to denote a deliberate act of self-release, consistent with its meaning.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

30%

Encyclopedias

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "absolve yourself of" is a grammatically sound and relatively common expression used to convey the act of freeing oneself from guilt, responsibility, or obligation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a valid phrase in written English. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it carries a neutral tone, suitable for general communication. When using this phrase, ensure that it reflects a personal decision to relinquish something burdensome, rather than seeking external forgiveness or erasing consequences. Alternatives like "free yourself from" or "release yourself from" can also be considered, depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exonerate yourself from

Focuses on clearing oneself from accusation or blame, often in a legal or formal context.

acquit yourself of

Implies proving oneself innocent of wrongdoing, shifting the emphasis to demonstrating lack of culpability.

free yourself from

A more general expression for escaping a burden or obligation, not necessarily related to guilt.

release yourself from

Similar to 'free yourself from', this emphasizes a deliberate act of letting go of a responsibility or commitment.

disburden yourself of

Highlights the relief of removing a weight or heavy responsibility from oneself.

vindicate yourself from

Emphasizes clearing one's name or reputation after being doubted or accused.

clear yourself of

A more direct way of saying you are removing yourself from suspicion or implication in something negative.

repudiate

Implies rejecting or disowning something, such as a belief or action.

disclaim responsibility for

A formal way of stating that you are not accountable for something.

renounce responsibility for

Similar to 'disclaim responsibility', this suggests a formal or public rejection of duty.

FAQs

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

You can use "absolve yourself of" in a sentence to indicate that you are freeing yourself from guilt or responsibility. For example: "After much reflection, she decided to "absolve yourself of" any guilt regarding the situation."

What does it mean to "absolve yourself of" something?

To "absolve yourself of" something means to release yourself from blame, obligation, or responsibility. It's a personal act of deciding not to feel guilty or burdened by something anymore.

What can I say instead of "absolve yourself of"?

You can use alternatives like "free yourself from", "release yourself from", or "exonerate yourself from" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "absolve yourself of"?

It's appropriate to use "absolve yourself of" when you've taken the time to reflect upon a situation and actively decided to release yourself from feelings of guilt, obligation, or responsibility. This is a personal decision-making.