vindicate

Universal Words verb [VN] (formal) 1 to prove that sth is true or that you were right to do sth, especially when other people thought differently SYNJUSTIFY: Our fears of conflict were partially vindicated by today's events. * I have every confidence that this decision will be fully vindicated. 2 to prove that sb is not guilty when they have been accused of doing sth wrong or illegal: New evidence emerged, vindicating him completely. vindication noun [U,sing.]: Anti-nuclear protesters regarded the Chernobyl accident as a clear vindication of their campaign.