Definitions

wipe the slate clean

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absolve phr.
bury the hatchet phr.
cancel phr.
exculpate phr.
exonerate phr.
forgive phr.
go back to square one phr.
overlook phr.
pardon phr.
release phr.

PHRASE

absolve

Synonyms

STRONGEST

acquit exempt exonerate forgive pardon relieve vindicate

STRONG

bleach clear discharge exculpate excuse free launder liberate loose release sanitize spare spring whitewash

WEAK

blink at go easy on let off let off easy let off the hook let up on lifeboat set free wink at wipe it off write off

Antonyms

STRONGEST

accuse blame censure charge condemn convict damn punish sentence

STRONG

hold keep limit restrain

WEAK

bind impeach incriminate obligate

PHRASE

bury the hatchet

Synonyms

WEAK

accept apology bear no malice end a quarrel forget forgive hold out an olive branch kiss and make up let bygones be bygones make a peace offering make peace smoke the peace pipe

PHRASE

cancel

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abolish abort annul break off cut destroy eliminate kill remove repeal rescind revoke wipe out

STRONG

abrogate ax break countermand deface delete efface eradicate expunge obliterate off omit quash repudiate scrub sink smash squash torpedo total trash trim undo zap

WEAK

X out black out blot out cross out do away with do in finish off go back on one's word render invalid rub out scratch out stamp across strike out wash out

Antonyms

STRONGEST

approve begin build continue create enact give birth keep ratify restore sanction start validate

STRONG

add aid allow assist bear construct establish fasten fix help institute lose mend permit strengthen support

WEAK

arrange imbalance tip uphold

PHRASE

exculpate

Synonyms

STRONG

absolve acquit amnesty clear condone discharge dismiss excuse exonerate explain free justify pardon rationalize release remit vindicate

WEAK

disculpate let off

Antonyms

STRONG

accuse blame censure charge condemn convict damn employ engage hire hold incarcerate incriminate keep maintain punish sentence

PHRASE

exonerate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

absolve acquit discharge dismiss exempt justify pardon vindicate

STRONG

disburden except exculpate free liberate release relieve sanitize whitewash

WEAK

let off let off hook

Antonyms

STRONGEST

blame condemn convict damn employ engage hire hold keep punish sentence

STRONG

burden limit restrain

WEAK

accuse charge incarcerate incriminate

PHRASE

forgive

Synonyms

STRONGEST

absolve condone excuse forget

STRONG

acquit amnesty clear commute efface exculpate exempt exonerate extenuate overlook palliate pocket purge release relent remit reprieve respite spring

WEAK

accept apology allow for bear no malice bear with bury the hatchet dismiss from mind kiss and make up laugh off let bygones be bygones let it go let off let off easy let pass let up on make allowance think no more of turn other cheek wink at

Antonyms

STRONGEST

condemn

STRONG

accuse blame hold increase keep maintain sentence

WEAK

censure charge punish

PHRASE

go back to square one

Synonyms

WEAK

begin again go back to the drawing board make a fresh start make a new beginning start from scratch

PHRASE

overlook

Synonyms

STRONGEST

disregard ignore

STRONG

condone excuse forgive handle stomach take whitewash

WEAK

bear with blink at go along with grin and bear it let bygones be bygones let go let pass live with look the other way pay no mind play past put up with roll with punches stand for swim with the tide tune out turn blind eye to wink at

Antonyms

STRONGEST

note pay attention regard

STRONG

censure refuse reject

WEAK

attend deny follow heed honor look at notice prevent respect serve veto

PHRASE

pardon

Synonyms

STRONGEST

absolve acquit discharge excuse exonerate tolerate

STRONG

accept amnesty clear condone exculpate free justify liberate lifeboat overlook release remit reprieve rescue spring

WEAK

blink at bury the hatchet give absolution grant amnesty let off let off easy suspend charges wink at write off

Antonyms

STRONGEST

blame charge condemn convict hold incriminate sentence

STRONG

deny keep limit prevent refuse restrain

WEAK

chastise damn ostracize penalize punish

PHRASE

release

Synonyms

STRONGEST

clear deliver discharge drop free issue leak surrender

STRONG

absolve acquit commute disengage dispense emancipate exculpate excuse exempt exonerate extricate liberate loose loosen manumit spring unbind unchain undo unfasten unleash unloose untie vent yield

WEAK

bail out cast loose give off give out go easy on let off let off steam let up on open up set at large set free set loose take out turn loose turn out unfetter unshackle

Antonyms

STRONGEST

confine detain hold imprison keep limit restrain retain suppress

STRONG

bind blame charge condemn convict fasten incarcerate incriminate prevent sentence

WEAK

collect gather maintain

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

wipe the slate clean

This allows them to retain their core information but wipe the slate clean with tracking their spending.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 11, 2026

Dr Craig Lowrey, principal consultant at Cornwall Insight, says a ceasefire eases some of the immediate pressure on gas markets but "does not wipe the slate clean".

From BBC ● Apr. 8, 2026

I didn’t start out as strong but I’m getting better, so I think we might need to wipe the slate clean and start over.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 4, 2024

Most borrowers who fell into default before March 2020 have a one-time chance to wipe the slate clean under the administration’s Fresh Start program.

From New York Times ● Jun. 1, 2023

I believe we forgot everything except, of course, personal fear, and it seemed to wipe the slate clean and give us a fresh start.

From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker

wipe the slate clean

Example Sentences

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Related Words