repudiation, exoneration, poetic justice, affirmation, disappointment, pyrrhic victory, triumph, sour grapes, finality, revenge, aberration, stepping stone, bittersweet, reversal, reaffirmation, rebuke, surprise, victory, capitulation, betrayal, setback, deja vu, accomplishment, turnabout, culmination, disavowal, solace, affront, validation, retribution, atonement, travesty, morale booster, payback, elation, refutation, rejoicing, catharsis, shock, witch hunt, rebuff, consolation prize, steppingstone, schadenfreude, contrition, scapegoat, comeuppance, justification, foregone conclusion, hurray, overreaction, mockery, silver lining, irony, sympathy, jubilation, vendetta, embarrassment, letdown, red herring, disgrace, acknowledgment, shocker, fluke, measuring stick, certainty, injustice, absolution, justice, anticlimax, wishful thinking, death knell, overachievement, detractors, consolation, discredit, fillip, boon, redress, payoff, windfall, respectability, whitewash, succor, harbinger, success, negation, triumphalism, reassurance, satisfaction, breakthrough, milestone, retaliation, acquittal, humiliation, credence, comedown, understatement, joy, godsend, optimism, vengeance, apotheosis, confirmation, reconciliation, defence, fulfilment, confutation, defense, rebuttal, elucidation, assurance, attestation, clarification, consecration, demonstration, inauguration, legitimization, reparation, apology

alibi, apologia, excuse, self-justification

rehabilitation

clearing