Word: absolved

Associations

"Absolved" means to be freed from guilt or blame. It can also mean that someone has been released from a duty or responsibility. Here are some examples:

• A judge absolved the defendant of all charges. This shows that the court found the person innocent.
• After they apologized, I felt absolved from any anger I had. This means the person felt relieved from negative feelings.
• The organization absolved its employees of fault in the incident. This indicates that the employees were not held responsible.

A synonym is "exonerated," but while both words mean to clear someone of blame, "exonerated" is often used in a legal context, while "absolved" can apply to moral or personal situations.

Substitution

Instead of "absolved," you could use:

• "forgiven" - which means being pardoned for a mistake, but carries more emotional weight.
• "cleared" - often used in a legal sense to indicate no wrongdoing was detected.
• "released" - which can imply freedom from duty, but doesn't necessarily involve guilt or blame.

Deconstruction

The word "absolved" comes from the Latin "absolvere," which combines "ab-" meaning "from" and "solvere" meaning "to loosen" or "to free." This reflects the meaning of being freed from guilt or duty.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you felt absolved from guilt? What happened?
• In what situations do you think it is important to show forgiveness or absolution to others?
• How do you feel when someone absolves you of blame? Does it change your view of the person?