as in excuses
an explanation that frees one from fault or blame
offered a weak justification for why he was so late
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Recent Examples of justifications
So while the balance-sheet justifications might shift, the general logic won’t.
—
Clio Chang, Curbed, 30 Jan. 2026
In a somewhat baffling aside that failed to meet the moment, Jordan Klepper popped in, supposedly live from Minneapolis, to satirize the ever-shifting goalposts of the administration’s justifications for Pretti’s death.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 26 Jan. 2026
Under current law, notwithstanding forthcoming Supreme Court decisions, the president can impose tariffs under sweeping justifications like national security or other emergency powers.
—Andrew Leahey, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Trump has given varied justifications for the use of tariffs in his second term—both as an economic measure and a foreign policy tool.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 20 Jan. 2026
That includes not only explanations and justifications for the officers’ actions but also, where appropriate, apologies and commitments to correct any tactical or administrative problems that led to the loss of life.
—Laurence Miller, Sun Sentinel, 14 Jan. 2026
When boards pre-commit to a preferred outcome and then retrofit justifications for rejecting alternatives, the problem is not strategic disagreement.
—Mark Desjardine, Fortune, 8 Jan. 2026
The justifications that were given are things that most members of the opposition would be embarrassed to be hearing.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
As the United States was about to commit to the overthrow of Saddam Hussein from Iraq 20-plus years ago now, the Bush administration made different arguments and justifications for intervention that seemed to shift like the sand of the Middle East.
—Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 5 Jan. 2026
Clio Chang, Curbed, 30 Jan. 2026
In a somewhat baffling aside that failed to meet the moment, Jordan Klepper popped in, supposedly live from Minneapolis, to satirize the ever-shifting goalposts of the administration’s justifications for Pretti’s death.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 26 Jan. 2026
Under current law, notwithstanding forthcoming Supreme Court decisions, the president can impose tariffs under sweeping justifications like national security or other emergency powers.
—Andrew Leahey, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Trump has given varied justifications for the use of tariffs in his second term—both as an economic measure and a foreign policy tool.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 20 Jan. 2026
That includes not only explanations and justifications for the officers’ actions but also, where appropriate, apologies and commitments to correct any tactical or administrative problems that led to the loss of life.
—Laurence Miller, Sun Sentinel, 14 Jan. 2026
When boards pre-commit to a preferred outcome and then retrofit justifications for rejecting alternatives, the problem is not strategic disagreement.
—Mark Desjardine, Fortune, 8 Jan. 2026
The justifications that were given are things that most members of the opposition would be embarrassed to be hearing.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
As the United States was about to commit to the overthrow of Saddam Hussein from Iraq 20-plus years ago now, the Bush administration made different arguments and justifications for intervention that seemed to shift like the sand of the Middle East.
—Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 5 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for justifications
Noun
-
Stop making excuses, show some leadership and act like a governor, Maura Healey.—
Joe Battenfeld,
Boston Herald,
7 Feb. 2026
-
No matter the schedule, no matter who’s out, there are no excuses.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Despite the fact that South Korea is obviously, for very understandable reasons, suspicious about Japanese nationalism.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The judge cited the 23-year-old defendant's potential for rehabilitation and difficult upbringing as reasons for the lower sentence.—
Monroe Trombly,
Louisville Courier Journal,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Justifications.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/justifications. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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