vindicate

to say someone is right, after many thought they were wrong

TRANSLATION

vindicate = rechtfertigen, verteidigen, verfechten to vindicate (support, of a theory) = sich bewahrheiten --- GOOGLE INDEX vindicate: approximately 3,100,000 Google hits

STATISTICS

IN THE PRESS

JK Rowling feels "fully VINDICATED and her reputation restored" after the Daily Mail's apology to the author was read out in London's High Court.

BBC News

Did you
know?

vindicate
verb

- to clear from guilt, accusation, blame, etc., as by evidence or argument

(Collins Dictionary)

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The word first came into the language in the mid-1600s, from Latin vindicatus, to revenge or avenge. Notice the slight difference between these terms, however. To take revenge, or get revenge, is to try to hurt someone (back) who has hurt you. To avenge means to attempt to right a wrong, although often through similarly hurtful actions. The verb vindicate can be used in the sense of "justify specific behaviour".

As with most instances in which people feel that their actions are justified, there is an element of self-righteousness. In other words, the person may feel that he or she is doing the right thing, but the activity itself may be controversial. (The politician believed history would vindicate his policy on fracking)

One synonym of vindicate, acquit, is used almost exclusively in a legal context. Someone who has been acquitted of a crime has been proven innocent.

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SYNONYMS

acquit, disprove, uphold, justify, prove, refute

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SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation

"Our decision 5 years ago to invest in social media has been completely vindicated."

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