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 After Lizzie’s acquittal, Bridget moved to a small town in Montana. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026 More than a century after her acquittal, Borden’s involvement in the murders remains the subject of debate. — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Sep. 2026 Puig filed a motion for acquittal on March 4, challenging both counts of his conviction. — Sam Blum, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026 The magistrate said the possibility that the company dismissed Cheng as part of a genuine corporate restructuring could not be ruled out beyond a reasonable doubt, resulting in an acquittal on the second count. — CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for acquittal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acquittal
  1. pardon
  2. forgiveness
  3. clearing
  4. exoneration
  5. vindication
Noun
  • Each nutty denunciation of his imaginary tormentors includes a plea for a presidential pardon.
    — Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Flávio has promised to seek a broad amnesty for his father and others convicted over the coup attempt, and to use the presidential pardon power if Congress does not act.
    — Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of pardon
Noun
  • Writer-director Reed Van Dyk’s feature debut navigates tricky emotional waters but emerges as a trenchant examination of what forgiveness and penitence can look like, allowing no room for anything resembling a pat happy ending.
    — Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Eligible businesses could apply for loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration, with additional requirements for those seeking loan forgiveness.
    — Paula Wethington, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of forgiveness
Noun
  • Islanders forward Simon Holmstrom took a puck to the face late in the first period off a clearing attempt by Rangers defenseman Sean Durzi.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Plumas National Forest, California About 100 miles northeast of California’s state capital, Derek Young stood in the middle of a clearing in Plumas National Forest.
    — Taylor Romine, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of clearing
Noun
  • Internal affairs complaints The lawsuit identifies five internal complaints filed against Sumstad between December 2022 and October 2025 and alleges each was dismissed, deemed unsubstantiated or ended in her exoneration.
    — Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 24 Sep. 2026
  • In fact, Mickes and Wixted have found that, in many exoneration cases, a witness resolutely identified a person in court despite having dithered and debated during the initial photo lineup.
    — Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of exoneration
Noun
  • Staring down an assembly of the outraged, Digger spells out the ruthless logic of global capitalism and claims the world’s fuel dependency as the ultimate vindication.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Choi, a field engineer who has since returned to the same Georgia plant, said the claim is about vindication.
    — Hanna Park, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of vindication

Browse Nearby Words

acquits
acquittal
acquittals
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Cite this Entry

“Acquittal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acquittal. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on acquittal

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about acquittal

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