exonerate from blame

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "exonerate from blame" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the act of clearing someone from responsibility or fault for a wrongdoing. Example: "The investigation aimed to exonerate him from blame after the evidence proved his innocence."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Was he seeking advice from the esteemed nuclear physicist, or hoping to be exonerated from blame for working on the atomic bomb, or soliciting Bohr's participation in the German attempt to build one?

BBC

Luce, who was generally exonerated from blame by the public, retired from the sea; some of the surviving crew chose not to return to the US.

Wikipedia

The fans were exonerated from blame by a verdict that declared supporters had played no part in causing the tragic events of that day.

Vice

And it is a credit to the filmmakers that a movie dedicated to a fearless, stubborn man's campaign against the medical establishment and the criminal justice system doesn't overly romanticize his struggle or exonerate him from blame.

The New York Times - Arts

Despite his praise for Broad, Clarke was critical of Australia's batting after they were bowled out for 270 and 224 at Chester-le-Street, and did not exonerate himself from blame.

BBC

Harlequins, desperate to put the affair behind them, will wish Richards had kept quiet, although the former director of rugby did the chief executive, Mark Evans, a favour by exonerating him from blame in the subsequent cover-up.

The Guardian - Sport

But he said that pointing the finger at BP's contractors should not exonerate the company from blame.

The Guardian

"I warmly congratulate Liam Fox for exonerating the pilots from blame," he said.

Independent

"None can doubt that an eminent judge exonerated the government from blame for Kelly's death.

The Guardian

As Simon Hoggart puts it in the Guardian: "The gist of the inquiry is: Blair without flaw - official!" Apart from a minor criticism of the failure of the Ministry of Defence to inform Dr Kelly that his name was about to become public, Lord Hutton exonerated the government from blame.

The Guardian

Furthermore, it seems like the US played quite a part in empowering the ISI with all the aid that has been offered for years to the Pakistani military… so we cannot exonerate the US government from blame for flawed policies in the region that have only served to worsen matters.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "exonerate from blame" when you want to emphasize a formal or official clearing of someone from responsibility, often after an investigation or inquiry. For instance, "The inquiry aimed to exonerate from blame those who were wrongly accused."

Common error

Avoid using "exonerate from blame" when you only intend to say someone's actions were justified in a minor way. "Exonerate" implies a significant clearing of wrongdoing, not a mere mitigation of responsibility. If someone made a small error with good intentions, phrases like "understandable mistake" or "minor oversight" are more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "exonerate from blame" functions as a verb phrase often used to describe the action of officially clearing someone of responsibility or fault. It indicates a formal or decisive action, such as after an investigation, aligning with examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

23%

Science

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

2%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "exonerate from blame" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression that signifies the formal act of clearing someone from responsibility. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase appears frequently in news articles, encyclopedias and formal documents. While alternative phrases like "absolve of blame" or "clear of blame" exist, "exonerate from blame" is particularly useful in emphasizing a complete and official removal of culpability. When writing, be mindful of using it in scenarios that genuinely warrant a full clearing of wrongdoing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Absolve of blame

Focuses on the act of formally releasing someone from responsibility.

Clear of blame

Emphasizes the result of being freed from accusation.

Acquit of responsibility

Suggests a formal or legal declaration of innocence.

Exculpate from fault

Similar to exonerate but with a slightly stronger legal connotation.

Vindicate from suspicion

Highlights the removal of doubt or suspicion surrounding someone.

Release from liability

Focuses on freeing someone from legal or financial responsibility.

Exempt from culpability

Indicates that someone is not subject to being blamed.

Free from incrimination

Emphasizes the absence of evidence against someone.

Justify actions

Focuses on demonstrating the validity or rightness of one's behavior or decisions.

Defend against accusation

Emphasizes the act of protecting oneself or others from accusations or charges.

FAQs

How can I use "exonerate from blame" in a sentence?

You can use "exonerate from blame" to indicate that someone has been officially cleared of responsibility for a wrongdoing. For example, "The investigation aimed to "exonerate him from blame" after the new evidence was presented."

What are some alternatives to "exonerate from blame"?

Alternatives include "absolve of blame", "clear of blame", or "acquit of responsibility", depending on the specific context and the level of formality required.

Is it redundant to say "exonerate from blame"?

While "exonerate" already implies the removal of blame, using the phrase "exonerate from blame" can add emphasis, clarifying that the individual is completely free from any culpability.

What is the difference between "exonerate from blame" and "excuse"?

"Exonerate from blame" suggests a formal clearing of wrongdoing, often after scrutiny. "Excuse", on the other hand, implies a justification for a minor fault or oversight, rather than a complete absolution. "Exonerate from blame" is appropriate when clearing someone after an investigation, while “excuse” is used in less formal contexts.