explain away

Synonyms

excuse, extenuate, gloss (over), gloze (over), palliate, 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;