The evidence presented in court served to exonerate the defendant, proving he was not at the scene of the crime.
synonyms
absolveacquitvindicate
word origin — from Latin 'exonerare', which means 'to relieve or unloading', composed of 'ex-' (out of) and 'onerare' (to load)
GRE Vocabulary — Set 97
Set 97 of GRE Vocabulary covers 5 words: exonerate, malign, lambaste, abrogate, exemplify. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.
exonerate · verb/ɪɡˈzɔnəˌreɪt/
to clear someone from blame or fault
The evidence presented in court served to exonerate the defendant, proving he was not at the scene of the crime.
Synonyms: absolve, acquit, vindicate
Origin: from Latin 'exonerare', which means 'to relieve or unloading', composed of 'ex-' (out of) and 'onerare' (to load)
malign · verb/məˈlaɪn/
to speak about someone in a spitefully critical manner
Despite his efforts to help the community, some neighbors chose to malign his character, spreading rumors about his past.
Synonyms: slander, defame, vilify
Origin: Late Latin malignari, from malignus, meaning 'evil' or 'wicked'
lambaste · verb/læmˈbeɪst/
to criticize someone or something harshly
The critics lambasted the film for its lack of originality and poor character development.
Synonyms: criticize, berate, rebuke
Origin: The word 'lambaste' originates from the early 17th century. It is believed to be a combination of the words 'lamb' and 'baste', where 'baste' means to beat or scold, possibly reflecting the harshness of the criticism.
abrogate · verb/ˈæb.roʊ.ɡeɪt/
to repeal or do away with a law, right, or formal agreement
The new administration plans to abrogate the existing trade agreement that has been in place for over a decade.
Synonyms: repeal, annul, cancel
Origin: from Latin 'abrogare', meaning 'to revoke' (from 'ab-' meaning 'away' and 'rogare' meaning 'to ask or propose')
exemplify · verb/ɪɡˈzɛmplɪˌfaɪ/
to serve as an example of something
The artist's latest work exemplifies the vibrant colors and bold styles that characterize her unique approach to painting.
Synonyms: demonstrate, illustrate, represent
Origin: from Latin 'exemplificare', meaning 'to illustrate by example', from 'exemplum' meaning 'example'