exculpation vs vindication

exculpation and vindication both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
exculpation	Yes	No	No	No
vindication	Yes	No	No	No

As nouns, vindication is a hypernym of exculpation; that is, vindication is a word with a broader meaning than exculpation:

exculpation: a defense of some offensive behavior or some failure to keep a promise etc.
vindication: the justification for some act or belief

Other hypernyms of exculpation include defence, defense.

exculpation (noun)	vindication (noun)
the act of freeing from guilt or blame	the act of vindicating or defending against criticism or censure etc.
a defense of some offensive behavior or some failure to keep a promise etc.	the justification for some act or belief