French Conversation · Level 109
60 words
French word
déculpabiliser
Pronunciation
IPA/dekylpabilize/
Meaning
- verbmake ___ feel less guilty
Example
Le médecin a déculpabilisé le patient en expliquant la situation.
The doctor made the patient feel less guilty by explaining the situation.
More examples
Il a essayé de déculpabiliser son ami en expliquant les circonstances.
He tried to relieve his friend's guilt by explaining the circumstances.
Core concept
A weight of guilt becoming lighter through explanation, apology, or support.
Common phrases
déculpabiliser quelqu'un
relieve someone's guilt
se déculpabiliser de son erreur
ease one's guilt over one's mistake
Similar words
rassurer: Relieve someone's anxiety or worry and make them feel at ease.
excuser: Lessen blame by giving reasons or circumstances, or offer an excuse.
culpabiliser: Make someone feel guilty or troubled by a sense of wrongdoing.
justifier: Show reasons or grounds that make an action or situation seem justified.
Definition in French
Réduire sa propre culpabilité ou amener quelqu'un à se sentir moins coupable, par des explications, des excuses ou du soutien.
Word origin
The prefix dé- marks reduction or removal in déculpabiliser, which is formed from culpabiliser and ultimately relates to Latin culpa, meaning fault.
Usage tips
- Déculpabiliser quelqu'un means to make someone feel less guilty, while se déculpabiliser means to reduce one's own guilt.
Other meanings
- absolve ___ of guiltverb
Opposites
- culpabilisermake someone feel guiltyverb
Related words
- déculpabilisationrelief from guiltnoun
- déculpabilisérelieved of guiltadjective