ig-ZAH-nur-ay-tid
/ɪˈɡzɑnɚˌeɪtɪd/
Exonerated is pronounced ig-ZAH-nur-ay-tid (/ɪˈɡzɑnɚˌeɪtɪd/). Exonerated is an adjective meaning cleared from blame or accusation, typically by a formal investigation or evidence. It denotes formal absolution of guilt, often after doubt or wrongdoing is proven unfounded. The term emphasizes vindication rather than mere forgiveness, and is commonly used in legal or investigative contexts.
adjectiveExonerated is an adjective meaning cleared from blame or accusation, typically by a formal investigation or evidence. It denotes formal absolution of guilt, often after doubt or wrongdoing is proven unfounded. The term emphasizes vindication rather than mere forgiveness, and is commonly used in legal or investigative contexts.
"The suspect was exonerated after new DNA evidence proved he was not responsible."
"A lengthy inquiry exonerated the company of the charges of illicit practices."
"Witness testimony and records later exonerated her from any participation in the scheme."
Pronounce it as /ɪɡˈzɒn.ə.reɪ.tɪd/ in UK and /ɪɡˈzɑː.nəˌreɪ.tɪd/ in US, with stress on the second syllable: eg-ZON-uh-RAY-tid. Start with a short initial 'ig' sound, then a stressed 'ZON' syllable, a light 'uh', a clear 'RAY', and finish with 'tid'. The 'ex' is pronounced /ɡ/ + /z/ blend for the 'gz' cluster, and the final -ed sounds as /ɪd/. Audio example you can compare: [exonerated] in a legal 품.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (putting it on the first or third syllable), pronouncing the middle /ɒ/ as a broad /ɑː/ in American speech, and slurring the final -ed as /d/ instead of /ɪd/. Correction: keep primary stress on the second syllable /ˈzɒn/ or /ˈzɑː.nə/ depending on dialect, make the middle vowel a clear schwa /ə/ before the 'reɪ.tɪd/ sequence, and articulate the final /tɪd/ with a light /d/ release. Listen to native samples and practice the syllable breaks: exo-ne-ra-ted.
In US English, expect /ɪɡˈzɑː.nəˌreɪ.tɪd/ with rhotic /r/ and a broad /ɑː/ in the second syllable; the sequence 'nə-reɪ-tɪd' is clear and fast. In UK English, you’ll hear /ɪɡˈzɒn.ə.reɪ.tɪd/ with shorter /ɒ/ and non-rhoticity, smoothing the r. Australian tends to align with US in rhoticity but may glide vowels slightly and reduce /ɒ/ to closer to /ɔ:/ depending on speaker; final -ed often pronounced as /ɪd/ or lightly as /əd/. IPA: US /ɪɡˈzɑː.nəˌreɪ.tɪd/, UK /ɪɡˈzɒn.ə.reɪ.tɪd/, AU /ɪɡˈzɒ.nəˌreɪ.tɪd/.
The difficulty lies in the multi-syllabic rhythm and the unstressed vowels. The second syllable carries the primary stress, affecting mouth position: you move from /ɡ/ to /z/ to /ɒn/ in quick succession. The Uinted vowel sequence /ə.reɪ.tɪd/ contains a lax /ə/ and a clear /reɪ/, then a clipped final /tɪd/. Mastery requires practicing the flow from a stop to a long vowel cluster while maintaining clean /t/ release. Practice with slow syllable-by-syllable enunciation.
The word contains the sequence /zɒn/ or /zɒn/ with /z/ after the /g/ sound; many speakers briefly vocalize the /z/ or merge it with the following nasal; focus on a crisp /zɒn/ rather than a heavy /z-ɒn/. Also ensure the /ə/ before /reɪ/ is a true schwa; not a full vowel. IPA cues: ex-o-ne-rat-ed where stress on ne: /ɪɡˈzɒ.nəˌreɪ.tɪd/.
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US: rhotic, clearer /r/; UK: non-rhotic, shorter vowel in /ɒ/; AU: rhotic but with vowel merging tendencies. Vowel cues: US /ˈzɔː/ vs UK /ˈɒn/; /reɪ/ remains steady. Practice: isolate vowels: /ɪ-ˈzɒn-ə-ˈreɪ-tɪd/; keep /ə/ as schwa; ensure /tɪd/ has a light d release. • US: emphasize final -ed as /ɪd/ after a consonant cluster; UK/AU: sometimes /ɪd/ or /əd/ depending on speed. • Rhythm: two primary beats: weak-strong-weak-weak (iambic feel with secondary stress on ne).
Exonerated originates from the Late Latin exoneratus, past participle of exonerare, meaning to unload or relieve of a burden. ex- (out) + onus (burden) + -are (to cause) evolves from the Latin exonerare, literally to remove a load. The sense shifted from “to relieve a burden” to “to clear from blame.” In English, the form exonerate appears in the 17th century, originally in a sense of freeing someone from an obligation or burden, and later specifically of freeing from guilt or criminal responsibility. By the 19th and 20th centuries, exonerated became the past-participle form used to describe someone who has been absolved after investigation. The term remains formal and legalistic, though it is also used more broadly in journalism and everyday speech to indicate vindication. Across centuries the core idea has stayed constant: to lift a burden of blame through evidence, testimony, or authoritative conclusion.
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Words that rhyme with "Exonerated"
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