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exculpate — to show or declare that someone is not guilty of wrongdoing

Part of speech: VERB

Definition: to show or declare that someone is not guilty of wrongdoing

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈekskʌlpeɪt/

Example Sentences

  • The CCTV footage completely exculpated the pizza delivery guy who was accused of stealing the neighbor's cat.
  • His alibi of being stuck in an elevator for three hours helped exculpate him from the robbery charges.
  • The DNA test results finally exculpated the man who had been wrongly imprisoned for 15 years.

exculpate

VERB

[/ˈekskʌlpeɪt/]

to show or declare that someone is not guilty of wrongdoing

While the guilty man was locked in a dark cell, the new video evidence allowed the judge to easily exculpate the innocent suspect.
💡 Concept

While the guilty man was locked in a dark cell, the new video evidence allowed the judge to easily exculpate the innocent suspect.

EX(out) + CULP(blame) + ATE(make) — deciding to ATE(make) all the CULP(blame) completely wash EX(out), the jury voted to exculpate the defendant.
🧠 Mnemonic

EX(out) + CULP(blame) + ATE(make) — deciding to ATE(make) all the CULP(blame) completely wash EX(out), the jury voted to exculpate the defendant.

Expecting a terrible, dark fate in prison, he cried with joy when the DNA results arrived to completely exculpate him.
🎵 Rhyme

Expecting a terrible, dark fate in prison, he cried with joy when the DNA results arrived to completely exculpate him.

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˈekskʌlpeɪt/
🇬🇧 UK/ˈekskʌlpeɪt/

🌳Etymology

Prefixex--
Rootculp
Suffix--ate

Origin

From Latin 'exculpatus,' the past participle of 'exculpare,' meaning 'to free from blame.' This combines the prefix 'ex-' (out) with 'culpa' (fault or blame).

Breakdown

ex- (out) + culp (blame, fault) + -ate (verb suffix) = exculpate (to free from blame)

🎵Rhyme

calculate
populate
stimulate

🔗Collocations

exculpate the accused
evidence exculpates
completely exculpate
exculpate from blame
exculpate oneself
DNA evidence exculpated

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

“The CCTV footage completely exculpated the pizza delivery guy who was accused of stealing the neighbor's cat.”

“His alibi of being stuck in an elevator for three hours helped exculpate him from the robbery charges.”

“The DNA test results finally exculpated the man who had been wrongly imprisoned for 15 years.”

😄 Fun example

“Her detailed diary entries exculpated her from accusations of being the office cookie thief.”

📚Related Words

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