Self-exonerating

The act of self-exonerating refers to behavior or statements intended to clear oneself of blame, guilt, or suspicion, often by providing justification, excuses, or shifting responsibility onto others. This can manifest through words, actions, or the selective presentation of evidence to create a favorable impression and portray oneself as innocent or less culpable. It implies a defensive posture, seeking to avoid negative consequences, and may or may not align with the actual truth of the situation. The intention is to restore one's reputation or avoid punishment.

Self-exonerating meaning with examples

• After the audit revealed financial discrepancies, the CEO issued a self-exonerating statement, blaming a rogue employee and claiming ignorance of the irregularities. He carefully crafted his words to deflect criticism and maintain his public image, focusing on the 'good' the company had done and presenting himself as a victim of circumstance. This move, while intended to soothe the market, was seen by many as an attempt to evade responsibility.
• The politician's speech was largely self-exonerating, attempting to distance himself from the scandal by emphasizing his commitment to ethical conduct and highlighting the opposing party's perceived flaws. He selectively cited instances of his own past actions that he felt displayed integrity, attempting to shift the narrative and win back public trust. The audience was divided over whether his words were believable.
• The defendant’s lawyer built a self-exonerating defense, meticulously picking apart the prosecution's case and offering alternative explanations for the evidence. The defense's focus was on the police investigation and the way it was performed. They carefully presented the evidence in a way that would showcase that his client was simply a victim of poor police work.
• The leaked emails revealed a series of self-exonerating memos written by the manager, documenting incidents that seemingly shifted blame for the team's failures onto his subordinates. This attempt to protect his own position backfired when the authenticity of the messages was confirmed. These memos had an opposite effect and now he needed to provide an actual explanation for his actions and how they could be perceived.
• Instead of accepting responsibility for the project's failure, the project manager resorted to a self-exonerating report, detailing the external challenges and blaming the lack of resources provided. The tone of the report appeared to be self-absolving, giving all of the reasons for his actions and not reflecting on his management and how it affected the project.