a. Freeing from a burden or obligation; tending to exonerate. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Exonerated p. pr. & vb. n. Exonerating ] [ L. exoneratus, p. p. of exonerare to free from a burden; ex out, from onerare to load, onus load. See Onerous. ] 1. To unload; to disburden; to discharge. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

All exonerate themselves into one common duct. Ray. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To relieve, in a moral sense, as of a charge, obligation, or load of blame resting on one; to clear of something that lies upon oppresses one, as an accusation or imputation; as, to exonerate one's self from blame, or from the charge of avarice. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To discharge from duty or obligation, as a bail.

Syn. -- To absolve; acquit; exculpate. See Absolve. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. same as exculpated.
Syn. -- absolved, cleared, exculpated, vindicated. [ WordNet 1.5 ]