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

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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
Now, their owners and CEOs have quite literally lined up to display their support for Trump, undermining possible excuses and claims of independence. —Henry Farrell, Foreign Affairs, 3 Apr. 2025 Reasons, not excuses, all over the NBA map, everybody grinding toward April 19 and the first slate of playoff games. —Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 3 Apr. 2025
Verb
None of which excuses a failure to search such sagas for good ideas that might be repurposed today. —Bill Fischer, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025 This year, 2025, has been positioned as the Great Reset — the first period without any asterisks to excuse the industry’s lack of recovery. —Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 31 Mar. 2025 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
  • What are the present political implications of trying to empathize with Germans under the Nazi regime, to better understand their own justifications for their crimes?
    — Joseph Bernstein, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025
  • This administration might use a domestic crisis as even more justification to bypass legislative and judicial oversight.
    — Jane Harman, Time, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of justification
Verb
  • 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
  • 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
Definition of ignore
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
  • 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
Definition of justify
Verb
  • If your golf cart has four wheels, weighs less than 3,000 pounds and can exceed speeds of 20 mph, it’s considered a low-speed vehicle under California law, Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers explained.
    — Fernanda Galan, Sacramento Bee, 16 Mar. 2025
  • This effect could explain why telescopes detect more galaxies rotating opposite to Earth’s motion than expected.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 16 Mar. 2025
Definition of explain
Noun
  • This relationship focus is another reason why some financial institutions may not be tempted by the pools of CRE loans on the market.
    — Sam Sidhu, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
  • The military has a nonpartisan tradition for a reason.
    — Risa Brooks, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of reason
Verb
  • Fans have not forgiven him for trading a global superstar in the prime of his career.
    — Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The elastic waistband is forgiving (especially post-resort buffet), and the wide legs allow airflow, even in hot climates.
    — Becca Blond, Travel + Leisure, 13 Apr. 2025
Definition of forgive
Verb
  • The mission began in fairly standard form: The SEALs infiltrated a bleak and dusty corner of Ramadi that happened to overlook a marketplace and, unbeknownst to them, also sat across from the lair of the Iraqi insurgents.
    — Fred Schruers, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Seeing the story that others are missing by reporting what so often gets overlooked: the values that connect us.
    — Claude Barilleaux, Christian Science Monitor, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of overlook
Verb
  • 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
  • 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
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 22 Apr. 2025.

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