as in excuse
an explanation that frees one from fault or blame
offered a weak justification for why he was so late
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Recent Examples of justification
Both Pirro and Blanche were inside the ballroom during the incident, which federal public defenders used as partial justification to say they are conflicted in the case.
—
Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2026
In a 2-1 ruling, the panel of judges at the US Court of International Trade found the administration lacked the justification to enact tariffs under a 1974 trade law known as Section 122.
—Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 7 May 2026
The women who came and went through my father’s successive households, each one absorbing the doctrine that the intensity of his desire was sufficient justification.
—Literary Hub, 6 May 2026
Soldier Field, Rate Field and even Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis loom over the landscape, marking steel and concrete warnings and justifications for a new stadium deal.
—Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for justification
Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2026
In a 2-1 ruling, the panel of judges at the US Court of International Trade found the administration lacked the justification to enact tariffs under a 1974 trade law known as Section 122.
—Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 7 May 2026
The women who came and went through my father’s successive households, each one absorbing the doctrine that the intensity of his desire was sufficient justification.
—Literary Hub, 6 May 2026
Soldier Field, Rate Field and even Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis loom over the landscape, marking steel and concrete warnings and justifications for a new stadium deal.
—Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for justification
Recent Examples of Synonyms for justification
Noun
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His excuses ranged from being too cold, to not having his phone or watch on him, to being a chill person who doesn’t like to show up early to the tee.—
Alex Kirshner,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
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So there’s no excuse not to finalize this deal promptly regardless of whether that induces a hissy fit from United Here and the Chicago Federation of Labor.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
Noun
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While Miller and his colleagues note in their study that past efforts to convince gun-owning households with kids to safely store their firearms haven't succeeded, Sathya sees reasons to be optimistic in his own health system.—
Rhitu Chatterjee,
NPR,
12 May 2026
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This is one reason why a partner of someone with avoidant attachment may perceive their partner as emotionally unavailable, overly self-sufficient, detached or distant or resistant to commitment.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Justification.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/justification. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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