Definitions
- Referring to clearing someone of blame or responsibility for a crime or wrongdoing. - Talking about absolving someone from guilt or fault in a particular situation. - Describing the act of proving someone's innocence or removing suspicion from them.
- Referring to a legal verdict of not guilty in a criminal trial. - Talking about clearing someone of charges or accusations in a court of law. - Describing the act of finding someone innocent of a crime or offense.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words refer to clearing someone of blame or responsibility.
- 2Both words are often used in legal contexts.
- 3Both words imply a finding of innocence or lack of guilt.
- 4Both words can be used to describe a formal process of absolving someone of charges or accusations.
What is the difference?
- 1Usage: Exonerate is more commonly used in non-legal contexts, while acquit is primarily used in legal contexts.
- 2Legal implications: Acquit specifically refers to a legal verdict of not guilty, while exonerate can refer to any situation where someone is cleared of blame or responsibility.
- 3Process: Acquit implies a formal legal process, while exonerate can refer to any situation where someone is cleared of blame or responsibility.
- 4Subject: Acquit is typically used in reference to a defendant in a criminal trial, while exonerate can refer to anyone who is cleared of blame or responsibility.
- 5Connotation: Exonerate has a more positive connotation, implying that the person was wrongly accused or blamed, while acquit can have a neutral or negative connotation, implying that the person may have been guilty but was not convicted due to lack of evidence.
Remember this!
Exonerate and acquit are synonyms that both refer to clearing someone of blame or responsibility. However, acquit is primarily used in legal contexts and specifically refers to a legal verdict of not guilty, while exonerate can refer to any situation where someone is cleared of blame or responsibility. Additionally, exonerate has a more positive connotation, implying that the person was wrongly accused or blamed, while acquit can have a neutral or negative connotation.
