as in justification
an explanation that frees one from fault or blame
"a really important business call" is no excuse for not paying proper attention to one's driving
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in to ignore
to dismiss as of little importance
more often than not, voters are willing to excuse a candidate's youthful indiscretion
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to justify
to be an acceptable reason for
having a female passenger in labor will generally excuse a little disregard for the speed limit
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to explain
to make (something) seem less bad by offering excuses
he's always excusing his chronic lying by claiming that everybody lies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of excuse
Dr. David M. Sack, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2025
And, when the U.S. government began requesting the extradition of the leaders, the Salvadoran courts, subservient to Bukele, repeatedly found excuses to avoid handing them over.
—Danielle MacKey, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2025
Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2025
Until Henry momentarily excuses himself from the table, that is, and the person or persons behind these winky-wink messages tell her to poison Henry ASAP or the menacing guy currently hiding in her apartment will kill her boy.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for excuse
Noun
The administration is offering a host of excuses to obscure its real motive: to subdue American universities and bend them to their will.
—Dr. David M. Sack, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2025
And, when the U.S. government began requesting the extradition of the leaders, the Salvadoran courts, subservient to Bukele, repeatedly found excuses to avoid handing them over.
—Danielle MacKey, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2025
Verb
But again, this doesn’t excuse Robby’s actions here.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2025
Until Henry momentarily excuses himself from the table, that is, and the person or persons behind these winky-wink messages tell her to poison Henry ASAP or the menacing guy currently hiding in her apartment will kill her boy.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for excuse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for excuse
Noun
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Furthermore, China restricts the import of many U.S.-grown foods through its slow and complex approval process for biotech crops, often citing health and safety concerns as justification.—
Garth Friesen,
Forbes.com,
27 Apr. 2025
-
Proposing de-extinction as justification for rolling back the Endangered Species Act and its many effective protections is a dangerous distraction.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
26 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Wallen briefly hugged the actress but seemed to ignore the rest of the cast and quickly walked past view of the camera.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
18 Apr. 2025
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Get best-in-class reporting that's too important to ignore for just $2.50 $1 per month for 1 year.—
Louryn Strampe,
Wired News,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The myth that trans women are a danger to cis women is a grossly transphobic stereotype with almost no real-world justification, but Rowling pins most of her anti-trans arguments on it, using her experience as a survivor of domestic abuse to justify her prejudice.—
Aja Romano,
Vox,
18 Apr. 2025
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The funding freezes and cuts have been imposed before the completion of full investigations, and different legal rationales have been offered to justify them.—
Michael T. Nietzel,
Forbes.com,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The reason for the independence, the Brookings Institution explains, is that politicians tend to want lower interest rates because lower rates stimulate the economy.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
21 Apr. 2025
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If yes, please explain: Only at the misdemeanor level.—
Harrison Mantas,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The reason for the independence, the Brookings Institution explains, is that politicians tend to want lower interest rates because lower rates stimulate the economy.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
21 Apr. 2025
-
The reason for the increase in the Tigers’ team score came after a review of Mizzou’s third rotation — balance beam.—
Henry Chappell,
Kansas City Star,
20 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Clear communication with borrowers One can forgive borrowers for being confused in this moment.—
Preston Cooper,
Forbes.com,
22 Apr. 2025
-
Indeed, you could be forgiven for growing slightly cynical of the big pledges, glossy roadmaps, endless subsidy schemes, and constant climate conferences.—
Antoine Rostand,
Time,
21 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Ammos Greek With a terrace overlooking JBR Beach and Bluewaters Island, Ammos Greek, at Rixos Premium Dubai JBR, boasts a chic dining ambiance brimming with Aegean coastal charm.—
Natasha Amar,
Forbes.com,
23 Apr. 2025
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Makeshift tents fill the crammed courtyard, the solid edifice of the church overlooking the flimsy havens.—
CNN’s Abeer Salman and Oren Liebermann,
CNN Money,
23 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Newsom received approval from the California Supreme Court to pardon Penry, a requirement when someone has more than one felony conviction.—
Taryn Luna,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Apr. 2025
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While Hunter Biden was convicted on the gun charges and pleaded guilty on the tax charges, his father ultimately pardoned him.—
Rebecca Beitsch,
The Hill,
11 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Excuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excuse. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
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