vindicate

About 0.69 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. verb To clear of an accusation, suspicion or criticism.

   to vindicate someone's honor

2. verb To justify by providing evidence.

   to vindicate a right, claim or title

3. verb To maintain or defend (a cause) against opposition.

   to vindicate the rights of labor movement in developing countries

4. verb To be proven reasonable, correct, or justified.
5. verb To provide justification for.

   The violent history of the suspect vindicated the use of force by the police.

6. verb To lay claim to; to assert a right to; to claim.
7. verb To liberate; to set free; to deliver.
8. verb To avenge; to punish.

   a war to vindicate infidelity

Similar words

justify avenge demand claim enforce assert reclaim affirm rehabilitate argue

Often followed by

the his their himself its her my our him it

Word family

vindicated vindicates vindicating