Choose the appropriate word from the options given below to complete the following sentence:
The Public Inquiry ___________ him from all blame for the accident at the factory.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → exonerated
Exonerated means officially cleared of blame or of a charge. It comes from the Latin ex (out of, away from) + onus (burden): the burden of blame is taken off the person. "Exonerated him from all blame" means the inquiry found that he was not responsible for the accident.
Example: The new evidence exonerated the driver.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 2: indicted — Incorrect. Indicted means formally charged with a serious crime; it is the opposite of being cleared of blame.
Example: The former minister was indicted for fraud.
Option 3: incriminated — Incorrect. Incriminated means made to appear guilty of a crime or wrongdoing; the sentence speaks of freeing him from blame, not loading it on him.
Example: The fingerprints on the glass incriminated the guard.
Option 4: exalted — Incorrect. Exalted means praised highly or raised to a high rank; it has nothing to do with blame. Its sound is close to "exonerated", but the meaning is different.
Example: The poet was exalted as the voice of his generation.
The following words have also been asked in other CUET (UG) English papers:
| Word | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| exonerate | 14-05 S1 14-05 S2 31-05 S1 | 21-05 S1 | – | – | – |
| indict | – | 21-05 S1 | – | – | – |
| exalt | 31-05 S1 | 02-06 S2 | 19-07 S1 | 10-06 S2 23-06 S3 | – |