vindicate

vin·di·cate

(vĭn′dĭ-kāt′)

tr.v. vin·di·cat·ed, vin·di·cat·ing, vin·di·cates

1. To clear of accusation, blame, suspicion, or doubt with supporting arguments or proof: "Our society permits people to sue for libel so that they may vindicate their reputations" (Irving R. Kaufman).

2. To defend, maintain, or insist on the recognition of (one's rights, for example).

3. To demonstrate or prove the value or validity of; justify: The results of the experiment vindicated her optimism.

4. Obsolete To exact revenge for; avenge.

[Latin vindicāre, vindicāt-, from vindex, vindic-, surety, avenger; see deik- in Indo-European roots.]

vin′di·ca′tor n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

vindicate

(ˈvɪndɪˌkeɪt)

vb (tr)

1. to clear from guilt, accusation, blame, etc, as by evidence or argument

2. to provide justification for: his promotion vindicated his unconventional attitude.

3. to uphold, maintain, or defend (a cause, etc): to vindicate a claim.

4. (Law) Roman law to bring an action to regain possession of (property) under claim of legal title

5. (Historical Terms) Roman law to bring an action to regain possession of (property) under claim of legal title

6. rare to claim, as for oneself or another

7. obsolete to take revenge on or for; punish

8. obsolete to set free

[C17: from Latin vindicāre, from vindex claimant]

ˈvindiˌcator n

ˈvindiˌcatory adj

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

vin•di•cate

(ˈvɪn dɪˌkeɪt)

v.t. -cat•ed, -cat•ing.

1. to clear, as from an accusation or suspicion: to vindicate someone's honor.

2. to afford justification for; justify.

3. to uphold or justify by argument or evidence.

4. to maintain or defend against opposition.

5. to claim for oneself or another.

6. Obs. to avenge.

7. Obs. to free.

8. Obs. to punish.

[1525–35; < Latin vindicātus, past participle of vindicāre to lay claim to, to claim as free, v. derivative of vindex claimant, protector]

vin′di•ca`tor, n.

vindicate

Past participle: vindicated
Gerund: vindicating

Imperative
vindicate
vindicate

Present
I vindicate
you vindicate
he/she/it vindicates
we vindicate
you vindicate
they vindicate

Preterite
I vindicated
you vindicated
he/she/it vindicated
we vindicated
you vindicated
they vindicated

Present Continuous
I am vindicating
you are vindicating
he/she/it is vindicating
we are vindicating
you are vindicating
they are vindicating

Present Perfect
I have vindicated
you have vindicated
he/she/it has vindicated
we have vindicated
you have vindicated
they have vindicated

Past Continuous
I was vindicating
you were vindicating
he/she/it was vindicating
we were vindicating
you were vindicating
they were vindicating

Past Perfect
I had vindicated
you had vindicated
he/she/it had vindicated
we had vindicated
you had vindicated
they had vindicated

Future
I will vindicate
you will vindicate
he/she/it will vindicate
we will vindicate
you will vindicate
they will vindicate

Future Perfect
I will have vindicated
you will have vindicated
he/she/it will have vindicated
we will have vindicated
you will have vindicated
they will have vindicated

Future Continuous
I will be vindicating
you will be vindicating
he/she/it will be vindicating
we will be vindicating
you will be vindicating
they will be vindicating

Present Perfect Continuous
I have been vindicating
you have been vindicating
he/she/it has been vindicating
we have been vindicating
you have been vindicating
they have been vindicating

Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been vindicating
you will have been vindicating
he/she/it will have been vindicating
we will have been vindicating
you will have been vindicating
they will have been vindicating

Past Perfect Continuous
I had been vindicating
you had been vindicating
he/she/it had been vindicating
we had been vindicating
you had been vindicating
they had been vindicating

Conditional
I would vindicate
you would vindicate
he/she/it would vindicate
we would vindicate
you would vindicate
they would vindicate

Past Conditional
I would have vindicated
you would have vindicated
he/she/it would have vindicated
we would have vindicated
you would have vindicated
they would have vindicated

Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Verb

vindicate - show to be right by providing justification or proof; "vindicate a claim"

excuse, explain - serve as a reason or cause or justification of; "Your need to sleep late does not excuse your late arrival at work"; "Her recent divorce may explain her reluctance to date again"

uphold, maintain - support against an opponent; "The appellate court upheld the verdict"

legitimate - show or affirm to be just and legitimate

vindicate - maintain, uphold, or defend; "vindicate the rights of the citizens"

defend, maintain - state or assert; "He maintained his innocence"

vindicate - clear of accusation, blame, suspicion, or doubt with supporting proof; "You must vindicate yourself and fight this libel"

vindicate

verb

1. clear, acquit, exonerate, absolve, let off the hook, exculpate, free from blame The director said he had been vindicated by the expert's report.
clear accuse, blame, condemn, convict, incriminate, punish, reproach

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

vindicate

verb

1. To free from a charge or imputation of guilt:

2. To support against arguments, attack, or criticism:

3. To show to be just, right, or valid:

4. To defend, maintain, or insist on the recognition of (one's rights, for example):

5. To exact revenge for or from:

Informal: fix.

Idioms: even the score, get back at, get even with, pay back in kind, settle accounts, take an eye for an eye.

Translations

oikeaosoittaaperustellapuhdistaapuolustaa

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

vindicate

[ˈvɪndɪkeɪt] vt [+ person, decision, action] → donner raison à
to be vindicated
The director said he had been vindicated by the experts' report → Le directeur a déclaré que le rapport des experts lui avait donné raison.
Ministers are confident their decision will be vindicated
BUT Les ministres ne doutent pas qu'on légitimera leur décision.

vindicate

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007