excuse 1 of 2

noun

ik-ˈskyüs How to pronounce excuse (audio)
Definition of excusenext
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

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excuse

2 of 2

verb

ik-ˈskyüz How to pronounce excuse (audio)
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

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun excuse contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of excuse are alibi, apologia, apology, plea, and pretext. While all these words mean "matter offered in explanation or defense," excuse implies an intent to avoid or remove blame or censure.

used illness as an excuse for missing the meeting

When could alibi be used to replace excuse?

The meanings of alibi and excuse largely overlap; however, alibi implies a desire to shift blame or evade punishment and imputes mere plausibility to the explanation.

his alibi failed to stand scrutiny

When might apologia be a better fit than excuse?

While the synonyms apologia and excuse are close in meaning, apologia implies not admission of guilt or regret but a desire to make clear the grounds for some course, belief, or position.

his speech was an apologia for his foreign policy

When can apology be used instead of excuse?

Although the words apology and excuse have much in common, apology usually applies to an expression of regret for a mistake or wrong with implied admission of guilt or fault and with or without reference to mitigating or extenuating circumstances.

said by way of apology that he would have met them if he could

When would plea be a good substitute for excuse?

While in some cases nearly identical to excuse, plea stresses argument or appeal for understanding or sympathy or mercy.

her usual plea that she was nearsighted

Where would pretext be a reasonable alternative to excuse?

The words pretext and excuse are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, pretext suggests subterfuge and the offering of false reasons or motives in excuse or explanation.

used any pretext to get out of work

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of excuse
Noun
No matter the schedule, no matter who’s out, there are no excuses. —C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 4 Feb. 2026 This series, wisely, does not attempt to psychoanalyze Smith or make excuses for the reports of his behavior. —Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2026
Verb
Craig did not stay to field questions from the media, respectfully excused for what a spokesperson described as fatigue from a long day. —Cam Inman, Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2026 So people tend to define antisemitism in a way that excuses their side, and that throws all of the blame on the other side. —David Remnick, New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for excuse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for excuse
  1. justification
  2. ignore
  3. justify
  4. explain
  5. reason
  6. forgive
  7. overlook
  8. pardon
Noun
  • Past administrations offered legal and moral justifications for military inventions, such as the Bush administration’s claims that Iraq was a just war.
    — Gerard F. Powers, The Conversation, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Meanwhile, the House lawmakers who reviewed unredacted versions of the Epstein files yesterday say at least six powerful figures were improperly shielded without clear legal justification.
    — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of justification
Verb
  • Still, even inside the awards-season bubble, the turmoil surrounding the movie business, the country and the world beyond it was hard to ignore.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
  • They're exhausted by the constant airing of grievances having little to do with what's actually going on in the country, and by the broad generalizations about, well, everything, that ignore context, nuance and facts to promote a political viewpoint.
    — Brenda Looper, Arkansas Online, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of ignore
Verb
  • Meanwhile, Tesla has worked to secure millions in state and local funding for its Semi, while many in the trucking industry question whether the vehicle’s uneven development timeline justifies such heavy public investment.
    — Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Those documents will reveal the grounds the federal government used to justify the FBI’s seizure of 2020 election records last month.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 9 Feb. 2026
Definition of justify
Verb
  • Whitwam explains that Catalina mule deer hunting was traditionally reserved for island residents and their guests, or hunters who were willing to book with a local guide.
    — Kris Millgate, Outdoor Life, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs argued Brady’s role as a sports network broadcaster — not just a Patriots icon — explains his neutral stance.
    — Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Definition of explain
Noun
  • Gordon pointed to a January study published in the journal Science as highlighting the reason behind the decline in overdose deaths.
    — Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
  • My sense is that the reason for this disconnect—the loss of power that faith traditions and philosophies once had to influence progressive movements—is that so much of it is digital now.
    — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of reason
Verb
  • In the end, Wirz was their only major conviction, because southern outrage and northern demands to forgive and forget brought an end to the legal effort.
    — Drew Gilpin Faust, The Atlantic, 8 Feb. 2026
  • With so much attention going, understandably, to Bad Bunny's halftime concert during Super Bowl LX, you'd be forgiven for thinking no one else was performing.
    — Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 8 Feb. 2026
Definition of forgive
Verb
  • On the first day of school during Black History Month, Ruth Duran assigned her sixth graders in the Bronx the story of a key figure overlooked in most history books.
    — Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 8 Feb. 2026
  • It’s grown on the lush farm of Flamingo Estate — an idyllic hillside orchard overlooking Los Angeles.
    — Gretta Monahan, Boston Herald, 8 Feb. 2026
Definition of overlook
Verb
  • He was pardoned 25 years later.
    — Elisha Brown, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Trump cannot pardon himself on a state conviction but his attorneys said his aim is to get the case into the federal appellate system and ultimately in front of the Supreme Court as quickly as possible.
    — Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 4 Feb. 2026
Definition of pardon

Browse Nearby Words

excusably
excuse
excused
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Excuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excuse. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on excuse

Nglish: Translation of excuse for Spanish Speakers

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