1
as in to explain
to be an acceptable reason for
you seem to think that losing a basketball game justifies a temper tantrum
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to defend
to continue to declare to be true or proper despite opposition or objections
failed to justify the need for a war at this time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of justify
But what happens when a movie demands too much of it, without providing the viewer any emotional reasons to justify the leap?
—
Tomris Laffly, Variety, 16 Sep. 2025
Prosecutors argued in court filings that Mangione's writings and methodic planning of the attack justified the terrorism charges.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025
Additionally, a sizable majority of respondents, 78%, said that political violence is never justified.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 16 Sep. 2025
The Sagrada Família also can’t justify itself entirely on aesthetic grounds.
—D. T. Max, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for justify
Tomris Laffly, Variety, 16 Sep. 2025
Prosecutors argued in court filings that Mangione's writings and methodic planning of the attack justified the terrorism charges.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025
Additionally, a sizable majority of respondents, 78%, said that political violence is never justified.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 16 Sep. 2025
The Sagrada Família also can’t justify itself entirely on aesthetic grounds.
—D. T. Max, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for justify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for justify
Verb
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Here, Renzi explains how long the doc was in the works, why family members didn’t participate, and how Marco of all people helped Sheen to get off crack.—
Lynette Rice,
Deadline,
13 Sep. 2025
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At a time when contentious words dominate our conversations—think insurrection and fascism and fake news and woke—the need for dictionaries to chronicle and explain language, and serve as its watchdog, has never been greater.—
Stefan Fatsis,
The Atlantic,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Tesla spent years defending, ultimately successfully, its 2016 acquisition of Solar City, Musk’s struggling clean-energy company.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
16 Sep. 2025
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Acosta defended the deal with Epstein in a news conference four days after the multi-millionaire's arrest.—
James Hill,
ABC News,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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It was announced by the Vikings head coach that McCarthy was excused due to being at the hospital with his fiancée to welcome the arrival of his baby boy.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Sep. 2025
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Likewise, with cameras on the trains in Charlotte, the public could be excused for wondering why there wasn’t a more immediate response after the event.—
Chicago Tribune,
Twin Cities,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Syed, the subject of the debut season of the Serial podcast, has long maintained his innocence.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
19 Sep. 2025
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These students are learning to think computationally while maintaining human judgment.—
Jaime Catmull,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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After a lengthy review, the call was upheld.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
13 Sep. 2025
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In August, an appeals court upheld Chen’s original order.—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Justify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/justify. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
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