From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Vindicate \Vin"di*cate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Vindicated}; p.
pr. & vb. n. {Vindicating}.] [L. vindicatus, p. p. of
vindicare to lay claim to, defend, avenge. See {Vengeance}.]
1. To lay claim to; to assert a right to; to claim. [R.]
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Is thine alone the seed that strews the plain?
The birds of heaven shall vindicate their grain.
--Pope.
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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.
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3. To support or maintain as true or correct, against denial,
censure, or objections; to defend; to justify.
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When the respondent denies any proposition, the
opponent must directly vindicate . . . that
proposition. --I. Watts.
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Laugh where we must, be candid where we can,
But vindicate the ways of God to man. --Pope.
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4. To maintain, as a law or a cause, by overthrowing enemies.
--Milton.
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5. To liberate; to set free; to deliver. [Obs.]
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I am confident he deserves much more
That vindicates his country from a tyrant
Than he that saves a citizen. --Massinger.
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6. To avenge; to punish; as, a war to vindicate or punish
infidelity. [Obs.] --Bacon.
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God is more powerful to exact subjection and to
vindicate rebellion. --Bp. Pearson.
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Syn: To assert; maintain; claim. See {Assert}.
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From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
vindicated
adj 1: freed from any question of guilt; "is absolved from all
blame"; "was now clear of the charge of cowardice"; "his
official honor is vindicated" [syn: {absolved}, {clear},
{cleared}, {exculpated}, {exonerated}, {vindicated}]
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