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Glite Dictionary
🛡️ Justifying or clearing ⚖️ Punishing to restore
vindicatory

vindicatory

9.9
Showing that a person is not guilty of a wrong
  • adjective
  • /ˌvɪn.dɪˈkeɪ.tɔːr.i/
translation icon : exonerador
  • The lawyer presented a vindicatory argument that cleared his client of all charges.

Examples

  • The committee's vindicatory findings confirmed that the scientist had acted ethically.

  • Her vindicatory remarks helped him restore his reputation after the false accusations.

  • Walcott leaves occasional songs and isolated words in Spanish, hence underscoring the original text's origins, but his vindicatory approach has a more specifically Caribbean political message.

    Academic text (1992)

Synonyms

exculpatory
vsvindicatory
  • Formal
15 9.9

Evidence or statements that show someone did not commit a crime

focuses on giving reasons or justification rather than proving innocence
exonerative
vsvindicatory
  • Formal
9.2

To show that someone is not to blame

aims to justify actions or remove suspicion rather than fully clear guilt
absolvitory
vsvindicatory
  • Formal
9.9

Giving forgiveness to someone for a wrong or crime

aims to justify or remove suspicion rather than offer forgiveness
justificatory
vsvindicatory
8.8

Gives reasons to show why something is right or okay

focuses on clearing blame or suspicion rather than only giving reasons
justificative
vsvindicatory
8.9

Giving a reason to defend or explain something

is about clearing blame or suspicion rather than just explaining or defending
apologetical
vsvindicatory
8.5

To give an explanation to defend actions and avoid blame

aims to justify or clear suspicion rather than make excuses

Antonyms

accusatory
10 6.3

Showing blame or suggesting someone did something wrong

blameworthy
1 6.5

Deserving blame for doing something wrong or harmful

How Justified

vindicatory
9.9
exculpatory
  • Formal
15 9.9

Surface Forms

vindicatory positive

Morphology

vindicatory = vindicate (transparent) = vindicate + ory

Meaning 'serving to justify or clear from blame' is a direct adjectival formation from 'vindicate' + '-ory' and is predictable for learners.

Etymology

Vindicatory comes from the Latin root vindic-, which meant 'to claim' or 'to set free', and it shares this root with vindicate. So something described as vindicatory can help 'clear' someone of blame or justify them.