absolve

absolve
verb
1)

this fact does not absolve you from responsibility

Syn:
exonerate, discharge, acquit, vindicate; release, relieve, liberate, free, deliver, clear, exempt, let off; formal exculpate
Ant:
blame, condemn
2) Christianity

I absolve you of your sins

Syn:
forgive, pardon
Ant:
punish, condemn
••
absolve, acquit, exempt, exonerate, forgive, pardon, vindicate
To varying degrees, all of these words mean to free from guilt or blame, and some are most frequently heard in a legal or political context. Absolve is the most general term, meaning to set free or release — not only from guilt or blame, but from a duty or obligation (absolved from her promise to serve on the committee) or from the penalties for their violation. Pardon is usually associated with the actions of a government or military official (President Gerald Ford pardoned Richard Nixon following his resignation in the wake of the Watergate scandal) and specifically refers to a release from prosecution or punishment. It is usually a legal official who decides to acquit someone — that is, release someone from a specific and formal accusation of wrongdoing (the court acquitted the accused due to lack of evidence). Exonerate suggests relief (its origin suggests the lifting of a burden), often in a moral sense, from a definite charge so that not even the suspicion of wrongdoing remains (completely exonerated from the accusation of cheating). A person who is vindicated is also off the hook, usually due to the examination of evidence (she vindicated herself by producing the missing documents). Exempt has less to do with guilt and punishment and more to do with duty and obligation (exempt from paying taxes). To forgive, however, is the most magnanimous act of all: It implies not only giving up on the idea that an offense should be punished, but also relinquishing any feelings of resentment or vengefulness ("To err is human; to forgive divine").

Thesaurus of popular words. 2014.

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Synonyms:
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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Absolve — Ab*solve (#; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Absolved}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Absolving}.] [L. absolvere to set free, to absolve; ab + solvere to loose. See {Assoil}, {Solve}.] 1. To set free, or release, as from some obligation, debt, or responsibility,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • absolve — ab·solve /əb zälv, sälv/ vt ab·solved, ab·solv·ing 1: to set free or release from some obligation or responsibility a judgment terminating a parent s rights...absolve s that parent of all future support obligations In re Bruce R., 662 A.2d 107… …   Law dictionary

  • absolve — 1. Pronunciation is now normally with z , not s . 2. The usual construction is with a direct object, or in the passive, followed by of or from: • It absolved him of all responsibility L. A. G. Strong, 1948 • Absolve me from all spot of sin James… …   Modern English usage

  • absolve — [ab zälv′, absälv′, abzôlv′, absôlv′; əbzälv′, əb sälv, əbzôlv′, əbsôlv′] vt. absolved, absolving [ME absolven < L absolvere, to loosen from < ab , from + solvere: see SOLVE] 1. to pronounce free from guilt or blame; acquit 2. a) to give… …   English World dictionary

  • absolve — (v.) early 15c., from L. absolvere set free, loosen, acquit, from ab from (see AB (Cf. ab )) + solvere loosen (see SOLVE (Cf. solve)). Related: Absolved; absolving …   Etymology dictionary

  • absolve — exonerate, acquit, *exculpate, vindicate Analogous words: pardon, forgive, remit (see EXCUSE): release, *free, discharge Antonyms: hold (to a promise, an obligation): charge (with a sin, the blame, the responsibility) Contrasted words: blame (see …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • absolve — [v] free from responsibility, duty acquit, bleach, blink at, clear, discharge, exculpate, excuse, exempt, exonerate, forgive, free, go easy on, launder*, let off*, let off easy*, let off the hook*, let up on*, liberate, lifeboat*, loose, pardon,… …   New thesaurus

  • absolve — ► VERB 1) declare (someone) free from guilt or responsibility. 2) give absolution for (a sin). ORIGIN Latin absolvere set free, acquit …   English terms dictionary

  • absolve — UK [əbˈzɒlv] / US [əbˈzɑlv] verb [transitive] Word forms absolve : present tense I/you/we/they absolve he/she/it absolves present participle absolving past tense absolved past participle absolved 1) formal to state officially that someone is free …   English dictionary

  • absolve — absolvable, adj. absolvent, adj., n. absolver, n. /ab zolv , solv /, v.t., absolved, absolving. 1. to free from guilt or blame or their consequences: The court absolved her of guilt in his death. 2. to set free or release, as from some duty,… …   Universalium

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