to prove that what someone said or did was right or true, after other people thought it was…. to clear, as from an accusation or suspicion: to vindicate someone's honor. to afford justification for; justify. to uphold or justify by argument or evidence. … Jan 14, 2026 · vindicate (third-person singular simple present vindicates, present participle vindicating, simple past and past participle vindicated) (transitive) To clear of an accusation, suspicion or criticism. Vindicate means to justify, prove, or reinforce an idea — or to absolve from guilt. If your family thinks you hogged the last piece of pie on Thanksgiving, you'll be vindicated when your younger brother fesses up. If a person or their decisions, actions, or ideas are vindicated, they are proved to be correct, after people have said that they were wrong. The director said he had been vindicated by the experts' report. He … There are 12 meanings listed in OED's entry for the verb vindicate, four of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence. Which is correct: "vindicate" or "indicate"? "Vindicate" means to clear from blame or suspicion, or to justify, while "indicate" means to point out or show. Although they sound similar, they have very … to clear, as from an accusation, imputation, suspicion, or the like: to vindicate someone's honor. to afford justification for; justify: Subsequent events vindicated his policy.
