Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

vindicate

/ˈvɪndɪˌkeɪ̯t/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.54 in modern English

Syllables: vin-di-cate
IPA: /ˈvɪndɪˌkeɪ̯t/

15

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

3

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To clear of an accusation, suspicion or criticism.

Transitive verb

verb

To justify by providing evidence.

Transitive verb

verb

To maintain or defend (a cause) against opposition.

Transitive verb

verb

To be proven reasonable, correct, or justified.

Transitive verb

verb

To provide justification for.

Transitive verb

verb

To lay claim to; to assert a right to; to claim.

Transitive verb

verb

To liberate; to set free; to deliver.

Obsolete; Transitive verb

verb

To avenge; to punish.

Obsolete; Transitive verb

Example Sentences

"to vindicate someone's honor"
"As a man of vision, he understood this. Without Cerberus, humanity was doomed to an existence of groveling subservience at the feet of alien masters. Still, there were those who would call what he did criminal. Unethical. Amoral. History would vindicate him, but until it did he and his followers were forced to exist in hiding, working toward their goals in secret."
"to vindicate a right, claim or title"
"The Ukrainians immediately demanded a goal and their claims were vindicated as replays showed the ball crossed the line before Terry's intervention."
"Also see: United National Congress, Trinidad and Tobago"
"Kamla Persad Bissessar: " We have been vindicated, but it is a victory for the people""

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin vindicātus, perfect passive participle of vindicō (“lay legal claim to something; set free; protect, avenge, punish”), from vim, accusative singular of vīs (“force, power”), + dīcō (“say; declare, state”). See avenge.

Word Breakdown

Root: *weyh₁-

Usage

Inflected Forms

vindicates (present, singular) vindicating (participle, present) vindicated (participle, past) vindicated (past)

Derived Forms

revindicate vindication vindicator vindicatory vindictive

Synonyms

absolve clear exonerate acquittance assoil assoilzie acquit disculp disculpate exculpate vindicate

Questions

How do you pronounce vindicate?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈvɪndɪˌkeɪ̯t/.
What does vindicate mean?: To clear of an accusation, suspicion or criticism.
Where does vindicate come from?: Borrowed from Latin vindicātus, perfect passive participle of vindicō (“lay legal claim to something; set free; protect, avenge, punish”), from vim, accusative singular of vīs (“force, power”), + dīcō (“say; declare, state”). See avenge.

How to pronounce vindicate

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “vindicate”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈvɪndɪˌkeɪ̯t/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “vindicate”.
Repeat and practice — Say “vindicate” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.