excuse 1 of 2

as in justification
an explanation that frees one from fault or blame "a really important business call" is no excuse for not paying proper attention to one's driving

Synonyms & Similar Words

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excuse

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun excuse contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of excuse are alibi, apologia, apology, plea, and pretext. While all these words mean "matter offered in explanation or defense," excuse implies an intent to avoid or remove blame or censure.

used illness as an excuse for missing the meeting

When could alibi be used to replace excuse?

The meanings of alibi and excuse largely overlap; however, alibi implies a desire to shift blame or evade punishment and imputes mere plausibility to the explanation.

his alibi failed to stand scrutiny

When might apologia be a better fit than excuse?

While the synonyms apologia and excuse are close in meaning, apologia implies not admission of guilt or regret but a desire to make clear the grounds for some course, belief, or position.

his speech was an apologia for his foreign policy

When can apology be used instead of excuse?

Although the words apology and excuse have much in common, apology usually applies to an expression of regret for a mistake or wrong with implied admission of guilt or fault and with or without reference to mitigating or extenuating circumstances.

said by way of apology that he would have met them if he could

When would plea be a good substitute for excuse?

While in some cases nearly identical to excuse, plea stresses argument or appeal for understanding or sympathy or mercy.

her usual plea that she was nearsighted

Where would pretext be a reasonable alternative to excuse?

The words pretext and excuse are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, pretext suggests subterfuge and the offering of false reasons or motives in excuse or explanation.

used any pretext to get out of work

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 excuse
Noun
There’s nothing like when the weather dips to 65 degrees—sunny skies, a slight chill in the air, and finally an excuse to pull on a favorite sweater. Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 22 Sep. 2025 Critics, however, have called the crackdown an excuse to exert more control over university curriculums. Molly Gibbs, Mercury News, 21 Sep. 2025
Verb
The lady seated between him and me began feeling sick and excused herself, and the table closed up. Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2025 The district has also introduced an opt-out request form for parents who want their children excused from instructional content that may conflict with specific religious beliefs, customs or practices. Hanna Kang, Oc Register, 18 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for excuse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for excuse
Noun
  • The probes could be used as justification for fresh sectoral tariffs aimed at boosting domestic production of goods deemed critical to national security.
    Anniek Bao, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Independent estimates suggest millions could lose coverage if credits expire, as higher costs push healthier individuals out of the risk pool and compound insurer pricing, a dynamic reflected in carrier justifications to state regulators.
    Ashley Lutz, Fortune, 24 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The collapse of water security in Iran has been decades in the making and is rooted in a mania for megaprojects—dam building, deep wells, and water transfer schemes—that ignored the fundamentals of hydrology and ecological balance.
    Nik Kowsar, Time, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Pierre LeBrun’s viewpoint Arpon, no doubt the Hughes contract injects a fresh comparable into the discussion that neither the Canadiens nor the Hutson camp can ignore, though using comparables always seems to be in the eye of the beholder.
    Arpon Basu, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • On September 24, Judge Smith permanently enjoined DHS from enforcing broad new immigration compliance conditions on a wide range of preparedness grants, ruling the agency had exceeded its statutory authority and failed to justify departing from longstanding grant practices.
    Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Among customers and in financial markets, skepticism is rising as some question whether the massive investment in AI will ever be justified by revenues.
    Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Erika Kirk also explained why a small stuffed puppet was sitting beside Kirk’s empty microphone.
    Stephanie Murray, AZCentral.com, 27 Sep. 2025
  • Instead, Pittsburgh’s defense rested on the idea that the taxes equal out when considering the school-district tax—a point, as explained above, that failed to persuade the judges who have presided over this litigation.
    Robert Raiola, Sportico.com, 27 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Voters also tend to lean more nationalist and conservative during economic downturns, said Hajime Kidera, a professor at Meiji University’s School of Political Science and Economics – which is one reason Abe was so popular during the post-recession early 2010s.
    Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
  • The executive branch does not normally use the shutdown as a reason for layoffs.
    Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The Soundcore Liberty 5 earbuds look a lot like the 2022-era Liberty 4, and while there are tweaks here and there, you'd be forgiven for confusing the two.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 29 Sep. 2025
  • For those who spend hours at a standing desk, your knees and feet may not forgive you.
    Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • At times, the officials handing out honors have been willing to overlook some bad behavior undertaken in the campaign against Castro.
    Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Photos show the couple posing on a balcony that overlooked the city lights.
    Michael Nied, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In mid-August, Meredith drove to Miami for a gathering of pardoned J6ers and other MAGA minor celebrities.
    Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 24 Sep. 2025
  • He was pardoned in a presidential decree along with five others, according to Egyptian state media.
    Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Excuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excuse. Accessed 4 Oct. 2025.

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