Vocabulary in context
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Vindication
The act of clearing someone of blame, guilt, or doubt; evidence or argument that proves a claim, action, or reputation to be right or justified.
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Imagine This
Imagine a scientist whose reputation was tarnished by rumors. After meticulous experiments and peer-reviewed results, a stack of consistent data arrives, and the judge or peers pronounce vindication, restoring the scientist’s standing.
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Sounds Like
VIN-dih-KAY-shən
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Looks Like
Looks like 'vindicate' (shares the same root and similar form)
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Remember This
Rooted in Latin vindicare meaning to defend or claim; related words include vindicator and vindicate. Vindication focuses on proving correctness or innocence, not revenge.
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Other Forms
vindicateverb
vindicatedadjective
vindicatingparticiple
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Connect With
exoneration, justification, defense, proof, corroboration
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Note
Do not confuse with vengeance or vindictive behavior. Vindication is about clearing or proving truth, not retaliating.
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Study Deeper
Examples
- The court's ruling provided vindication for the defendant, who had maintained his innocence.
- New DNA evidence vindicated the scientist's controversial theory and changed the course of the study.
Synonyms
justificationdefenseexonerationabsolutionvalidation
Antonyms
accusationcondemnationdiscredit
Etymology
From Latin vindicatio 'a claim, defense', from vindicare 'to claim, defend, vindicate', based on vind- 'to defend' and the agent noun suffix -atio; related to vindex 'protector, advocate'.
Mnemonic
WIN-DIC-ATION: WIN by DICing (saying) the truth. Imagine a courtroom victory when the truth is declared and you are vindicated.
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Astound
verbTo fill with wonder or surprise; to astonish greatly or shock someone.
Ossify
verbTo become fixed and rigid in form or mind; to harden physically into bone, or figuratively to become inflexible in attitude or habits.
Articulate
adjectiveHaving or showing the ability to express ideas clearly and effectively in speech.
Similar Words
Related words and words with the same part of speech.
Abasement
nounThe act or instance of humiliating or degrading someone; the state of being lowered in dignity or status.
Absurdity
nounThe quality or state of being wildly unreasonable, illogical, or ridiculous; something that is completely contrary to reason or common sense.
Accent
nounA distinctive way of pronouncing words; the act of emphasizing a syllable or word (as a verb, to accent means to emphasize).
Accolade
nounAn honor; a public expression of praise or an award.
Acrimony
nounBitterness of speech or manner; ill feeling
Acronym
nounA word formed from the initial letters of a phrase, pronounced as a single word and used as a shorthand for the full name (for example, NASA or radar).
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