excuse

excuse

verb

Definition of EXCUSE

1

to dismiss as of little importance <more often than not, voters are willing to excuse a candidate's youthful indiscretion>

Synonyms blink (at), brush (aside or off), condone, discount, disregard, forgive, gloss (over), gloze (over), ignore, overlook, overpass, paper over, pardon, pass over, remit, shrug off, whitewash, wink (at)

Related Words explain, justify, rationalize; absolve, acquit, clear, exculpate, exonerate, vindicate; waive, wave (aside or off)

Phrases close one's eyes to, forgive and forget

Near Antonyms heed, mark, mind, note, object (to)

2

to be an acceptable reason for <having a female passenger in labor will generally excuse a little disregard for the speed limit>

Synonyms excuse

Related Words account (for), alibi, explain, explain away, rationalize; brush (aside or off), condone, disregard, forgive, gloss (over), gloze (over), ignore, pardon, pass over, remit, shrug off, wink (at)

3

to make (something) seem less bad by offering excuses <he's always excusing his chronic lying by claiming that everybody lies>

Synonyms deodorize, excuse, explain away, extenuate, gloss (over), gloze (over), whitewash

Related Words sugarcoat, varnish; apologize, atone, confess; account (for), explain, justify, rationalize; minimize, play down, soft-pedal; alleviate, ease, lessen, lighten, mitigate, moderate, soften, temper; absolve, acquit, clear, exculpate, exonerate, vindicate