The phrase "not proven" is often used in legal settings to describe a situation where a defendant is acquitted of a charge, but there is still suspicion of guilt. In such cases, the defendant may be said to be "acquitted but not exonerated," "found not guilty but not cleared," or "declared innocent but not free from suspicion." Other synonyms for "not proven" include "unproven," "unsubstantiated," "unconfirmed," "unchallenged," and "undisputed but not accepted." These terms may be used in various contexts to describe situations where there is doubt or uncertainty about the truth of a claim, allegation, or accusation.