explain away

1
as in to explain
to give the reason for or cause of after the surprise attack, military leaders struggled to explain away the nation's unpreparedness

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2

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 explain away The tremors can be so muffled and distant that people continually adapt, explaining away the anomalies. Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025 However easy that is to explain away, that factoid remains kind of interesting. Clem Chambers, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025 Two are explained away, but that third set of DNA is revealed without much additional explanation. Check out: USA TODAY's weekly Best-selling Booklist Until now. Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2025 The reasons for the Dodgers’ struggles are easy to explain away. Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for explain away
Recent Examples of Synonyms for explain away
Verb
  • Each explained their reasons for bucking the president.
    Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 1 July 2025
  • This sterile male technique, previously explained to Newsweek by Texas A&M Professor Phillip Kaufman, works because female screwworm flies mate only once—flooding areas with sterile males prevents successful reproduction.
    Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • None of that, however, excuses the silly and juvenile behavior of the Assembly’s majority Democrats last week when the chamber took up a resolution commemorating Pride month.
    Mark Barabak, Mercury News, 3 July 2025
  • Students who cannot get to school and have bus stops are on a list provided by district officials can get absences excused Thursday and Friday.
    Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025
Verb
  • In our opinion, this favorable trend justifies an upward revision of its valuation multiple.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
  • The midfielder has arguably had to fight even harder to begin to justify the energy and expense required to bring him to Stamford Bridge two and a half years ago.
    Liam Twomey, New York Times, 28 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Explain away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explain%20away. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.

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