acquittal

noun

ə-ˈkwi-tᵊl How to pronounce acquittal (audio)
Definition of acquittalnext
as in pardon
a setting free from a charge of wrongdoing confidently predicted that his client's trial would result in a full acquittal

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of acquittal Calls to abolish capital punishment or increase transparency have grown after the 2024 acquittal of the world’s longest-serving death-row inmate, Iwao Hakamada. — ABC News, 21 Aug. 2026 Anthony’s lawyers now argue that decision severely damaged his chances of acquittal. — Ben Brachfeld, PEOPLE, 21 Aug. 2026 The government there charged Nelson Mandela and more than 150 other anti-apartheid activists with treason in a multi-year mass trial that ended in acquittal in 1961. — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 30 July 2026 Recounting the acquittal, Sam suggests Paul’s vindication wasn’t rooted so much in the truth as in the limits of the criminal justice system. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 22 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for acquittal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acquittal
  1. pardon
  2. forgiveness
  3. clearing
  4. exoneration
  5. vindication
Noun
  • Other presidential powers include the negotiation of treaties and the granting of pardons.
    — Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 Aug. 2026
  • One of the eight parole board members who took part in this case, former prosecutor Shontell Walker, was in favor of granting Noling a pardon, according to the board’s recommendation.
    — Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of pardon
Noun
  • Instead of anger, she’s leaned heavily on her faith to choose forgiveness.
    — Jacob Sisneros, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Along with this came the profound dread that straight white men (like me) felt about saying a single wrong sentence and facing the possibility of permanent exile without forgiveness.
    — Charles Finch, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of forgiveness
Noun
  • The data center also required extensive tree clearing, and the families say bright lights from the facility shine on their properties day and night.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 2 Sep. 2026
  • This plumbing falls into the same category as the ACH, SWIFT, card rails and clearing-and-settlement layer underneath the equities market.
    — Manny Khan, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of clearing
Noun
  • The Ohio Parole Board recommended commuting a death row inmate’s sentence to life in prison as his bid for exoneration garners support from Kim Kardashian and other celebrities.
    — Josh Feldman, NBC news, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Florida also has the highest death row exoneration record out of any other state — 30 since 1973, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of exoneration
Noun
  • However, ultimate vindication, or at least mitigation on the legal side of things, as well as the potential of AI as a multiplier for Meta's business, is keeping us in the stock.
    — Paulina Likos, CNBC, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Strong feelings of certainty, relief, or vindication are often a signal that your identity has done the evaluating, not your critical thinking.
    — Big Think, Big Think, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of vindication

Browse Nearby Words

acquits
acquittal
acquittals
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Acquittal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acquittal. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on acquittal

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about acquittal

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