Vindicate

Part of speech: verb (v.)

1. To lay claim to; to assert a right to; to claim. [R.] Is thine alone the seed that strews the plain The birds of heaven shall vindicate their grain. Pope.

2. To maintain or defend with success; to prove to be valid; to assert convincingly; to sustain against assault; as, to vindicate a right, claim, or title.

3. To support or maintain as true or correct, against denial, censure, or objections; to defend; to justify. When the respondent denies any proposition, the opponent must directly vindicate . . . that proposition. I. Watts. Laugh where we must, be candid where we can, But vindicate the ways of God to man. Pope.

4. To maintain, as a law or a cause, by overthrowing enemies. Milton.

5. To liberate; to set free; to deliver. [Obs.] I am confident he deserves much more That vindicates his country from a tyrant Than he that saves a citizen. Massinger.

6. To avenge; to punish; as, a war to vindicate or punish infidelity. [Obs.] Bacon. God is more powerful to exact subjection and to vindicate rebellion. Bp. Pearson.

Synonyms: assert; maintain; claim. See Assert.