Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun exculpation

2 senses of exculpation

Sense 1
excuse, alibi, exculpation, self-justification -- (a defense of some offensive behavior or some failure to keep a promise etc.; "he kept finding excuses to stay"; "every day he had a new alibi for not getting a job"; "his transparent self-justification was unacceptable")
       => defense, defence, vindication -- (the justification for some act or belief; "he offered a persuasive defense of the theory")

Sense 2
exculpation -- (the act of freeing from guilt or blame)
       => forgiveness, pardon -- (the act of excusing a mistake or offense)