Definition of "vindicate" []

• To clear of accusation, blame, suspicion, or doubt with supporting arguments or proof: "Our society permits people to sue for libel so that they may vindicate their reputations” ( Irving R. Kaufman). (verb-transitive)
• To provide justification or support for: vindicate one's claim. (verb-transitive)
• To justify or prove the worth of, especially in light of later developments. (verb-transitive)
• To defend, maintain, or insist on the recognition of (one's rights, for example). (verb-transitive)
• To exact revenge for; avenge. (verb-transitive)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "While he said he doesn't like to "use the word vindicate," Feldstein, who turns 72 next week, said he recently reviewed his euro-skeptic articles and "thought they were pretty much on target, even though they were written 20 years ago.""
• "Rome was still the lawful mistress of the world: the pope and the emperor, the bishop and general, had abdicated their station by an inglorious retreat to the Rhone and the Danube; but if she could resume her virtue, the republic might again vindicate her liberty and dominion."
• "Its only purpose can be to do one of three things: self - "vindicate" bad loser revenge, sell products, such as advertising on Fox News, books, speaking tours etc. and/or troll for the unhinged on a "fishing expedition" for tomorrow's assassins."