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 Or the way Black Twitter compared the acquittal of Casey Anthony with the conviction of Shanesha Taylor, a young mother put in jail for leaving her kids in the car during a job interview. — J Wortham, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025 Years after her case and eventual acquittal rocked Italy — and became huge headlines even here in the U.S. — Knox continues to be a familiar figure in popular culture. — Matt Minton, Variety, 19 Dec. 2024 Fraternal Order of Police president Rick Snyder had harsh words to share about the county's prosecutor Friday following the acquittal of Indianapolis police officers Steven Sanchez and Adam Ahmad, who were indicted on charges over their role in the death of Herman Whitfield III. — Ryan Murphy, The Indianapolis Star, 6 Dec. 2024 But if history is any guide — his testimony in his 2001 gun possession trial helped in his acquittal — Combs has the stomach. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 28 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for acquittal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acquittal
  1. pardon
  2. forgiveness
  3. clearing
  4. vindication
Noun
  • When Trump provided a blanket pardon to nearly 1,600 defendants on Jan. 20, his first day in office, Bondi was not yet confirmed.
    — Josh Meyer, USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2025
  • The pardon is a major victory for Kelsey, who reported to prison for a 21-month sentence on Feb. 24.
    — Adam Tamburin, Axios, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of pardon
Noun
  • This rhetoric aligns with long-standing conservative critiques that loan forgiveness might enable frivolous borrowing or academic pursuits with little payoff.
    — Shahar Ziv, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
  • President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order restricting student loan forgiveness for individuals working in public service careers, specifically targeting certain nonprofit organizations, according to White House staff secretary Will Scharf.
    — William Lambers, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
Definition of forgiveness
Noun
  • So Power of Mama members have started patrolling for fire risks, urging farmers to follow the rules about slash-and-burn clearing, and challenging stereotypes about women’s roles in rural Indonesian life along the way.
    — Sara Miller Llana, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 Mar. 2025
  • To strike a balance in protecting these critters while also proactively protecting your garden, focus on clearing areas where pests have a history of populating.
    — Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 21 Feb. 2025
Definition of clearing
Noun
  • In 2018, after signing with the Red Sox and becoming an All-Star but before helping to lead the team to another World Series title, Martinez was asked about his slow free agency and whether his current season was some sort of vindication.
    — Dan Freedman, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
  • In a press release their lawyers welcomed the ruling as a long-overdue vindication.
    — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 27 Feb. 2025
Definition of vindication

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Cite this Entry

“Acquittal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acquittal. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on acquittal

Nglish: Translation of acquittal for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about acquittal

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