Cleared of all these false charges vs Innocent

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Cleared of all these false charges

Beyond 10,000 (less common)

Innocent

Top 2,000 (common)B1adjective
Most common: Innocent
 Cleared of all these false chargesInnocent
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //klɪəd ʌv ɔːl ðiːz fɔːls ˈtʃɑːdʒɪz//🇺🇸 //klɪrd ʌv ɔl ðiːz fɔls ˈtʃɑrʤɪz//🇬🇧 /["/ˈɪnəsnt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈɪnəsnt/"]/
MeaningNot guilty of false accusationsNot guilty or not responsible for something bad.
ExampleAfter a lengthy trial, she was finally cleared of all these false charges.The child looked so innocent while playing in the garden.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonBeyond 10,000 (less common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level-B1
Part of speechadjective
Collocationscleared of charges, false charges, legally cleared, cleared of accusations, exonerated from chargesbe, plead, believe somebody, completely, entirely, totally, of, act, appear, be, very, sweetly, deceptively, sweet and innocent, act, appear, be, very, all, perfectly
Antonyms-guilty, culpable, involved
Common mistakesConfused with 'cleared of any charges' referring to real accusations, Incorrectly used in contexts without legal implicationConfused with 'naive' — 'innocent' suggests lack of wrongdoing, while 'naive' implies lack of experience., Using 'innocent' to describe things like food or objects — it only describes people or their actions., Mispronouncing the first syllable as 'inno-cent' instead of 'inn-uh-sent'.
Usage notesThis phrase is often used in legal contexts to indicate someone's innocence. It may not be appropriate in casual conversation.Use 'innocent' to describe someone who hasn't done anything wrong. It’s appropriate in both casual and formal contexts, but be cautious when referring to serious accusations in sensitive situations.

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Cleared of all these false charges
Innocent

Frequently asked questions: Cleared of all these false charges vs Innocent

What's the difference between Cleared of all these false charges and Innocent?

Cleared of all these false charges: Not guilty of false accusations Innocent: Not guilty or not responsible for something bad.

Which is more common: Cleared of all these false charges and Innocent?

Innocent is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Cleared of all these false charges: After a lengthy trial, she was finally cleared of all these false charges. Innocent: The child looked so innocent while playing in the garden.

Can I use Cleared of all these false charges and Innocent interchangeably?

Not always. Cleared of all these false charges and Innocent are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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