as in excuses
an explanation that frees one from fault or blame
a student who always has a very creative alibi for undone homework or late papers
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Recent Examples of alibis
Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Dec. 2025
Noun
Guests are encouraged to interrogate everyone at their tables (and other tables) for seemingly suspicious backgrounds and alibis.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alibis
Noun
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My focus will be on restoring dignity through opportunity and ensuring this district has leadership that fights for better outcomes, not excuses.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
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The policies of different nations allowed Putin to opine on this topic by occupying land and making excuses for his actions.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Past administrations offered legal and moral justifications for military inventions, such as the Bush administration’s claims that Iraq was a just war.—
Gerard F. Powers,
The Conversation,
11 Feb. 2026
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Their videos have turned American public opinion squarely against these operations and undercut the administration’s justifications for use of force.—
Elizabeth Shackelford,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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One pattern rationalizes exploitation and disguises harm as the price of progress.—
Valerie L. Myers,
The Conversation,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Every nation, every culture, really has its own reasons for commemorating the past.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
16 Feb. 2026
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Denver officials cited national media attention and tourism in Green Mountain Falls as reasons for downtown Denver to embrace the sculptures.—
John Wenzel,
Denver Post,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Alibis.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alibis. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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