1
as in ignored
to dismiss as of little importance
more often than not, voters are willing to excuse a candidate's youthful indiscretion
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in justified
to be an acceptable reason for
having a female passenger in labor will generally excuse a little disregard for the speed limit
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in explained
to make (something) seem less bad by offering excuses
he's always excusing his chronic lying by claiming that everybody lies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of excused
As the couple continued to pepper Harry with questions, Caroline excused herself to get another seltzer.
—
Literary Hub, 9 Apr. 2026
Dewey is excused from his parents’ anniversary party, given his success as a pianist, but Lois demands that everyone else be present, including Malcolm.
—Allison McClain Merrill, Parents, 8 Apr. 2026
After jurors told Judge Thomas Stevens they were deadlocked 11-1 on that count, Stevens declared a mistrial and excused the jury.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2026
Akin was excused from the stand after the court returned to session.
—Amelia Mugavero, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
Woods has always had a complicated reputation, but he’s also widely considered one of the best golfers ever, which means a lot of his problematic behavior has been excused because of his talent and his friendship with the US President.
—Stylecaster Editors, StyleCaster, 30 Mar. 2026
Two of the 14 jurors will be alternates and will be excused just before deliberations.
—Chris Ramirez, jsonline.com, 27 Mar. 2026
Metro Phoenix has the fourth-worst ozone levels in the country, but the federal government has excused the region from meeting stricter air quality standards, saying much of the pollution is beyond the state’s control.
—Sarah Henry, AZCentral.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Growing up, Fink had to help out in the family store because his grades weren’t as strong as those of his older brother, who was excused from retail duties.
—Bydebbie Carlson, Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 Mar. 2026
Literary Hub, 9 Apr. 2026
Dewey is excused from his parents’ anniversary party, given his success as a pianist, but Lois demands that everyone else be present, including Malcolm.
—Allison McClain Merrill, Parents, 8 Apr. 2026
After jurors told Judge Thomas Stevens they were deadlocked 11-1 on that count, Stevens declared a mistrial and excused the jury.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2026
Akin was excused from the stand after the court returned to session.
—Amelia Mugavero, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
Woods has always had a complicated reputation, but he’s also widely considered one of the best golfers ever, which means a lot of his problematic behavior has been excused because of his talent and his friendship with the US President.
—Stylecaster Editors, StyleCaster, 30 Mar. 2026
Two of the 14 jurors will be alternates and will be excused just before deliberations.
—Chris Ramirez, jsonline.com, 27 Mar. 2026
Metro Phoenix has the fourth-worst ozone levels in the country, but the federal government has excused the region from meeting stricter air quality standards, saying much of the pollution is beyond the state’s control.
—Sarah Henry, AZCentral.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Growing up, Fink had to help out in the family store because his grades weren’t as strong as those of his older brother, who was excused from retail duties.
—Bydebbie Carlson, Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for excused
Verb
-
But documents released by the government in March, after being forced to by Parliament, showed Starmer ignored red flags raised by his staff about the appointment.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
America’s $39 trillion national debt has become a familiar political football—batted around in budget negotiations, invoked at congressional hearings, and largely ignored between elections.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Senior Iranian leaders have repeatedly denied Israel’s legitimacy, predicted its destruction and framed that outcome as inevitable and justified.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Customs and Border Protection rules say that pepper balls and other projectiles should not be aimed at vulnerable areas such as the head or spine unless deadly force is justified.—
Rebekah Riess,
CNN Money,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This was, 6ix9ine explained, the autograph of Nicolás Maduro, the President of Venezuela.—
Diego Lasarte,
New Yorker,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Greater microbial diversity is generally associated with a more resilient immune system and better metabolic function,4 Beghini explained, so sharing microbes with a healthy partner can have a positive impact by helping to shape your microbiome towards a healthier composition.—
Mira Miller,
Verywell Health,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
When Ponds’ youth football coach from the Washington Park Buccaneers, Marcel Roberson, introduced seven of his top youth players to the staff at Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna, Ponds was overlooked.—
Tyler Carmona,
Miami Herald,
19 Apr. 2026
-
But not to be overlooked in 2026 are domestic cruises, with options including coastal sailings, river cruises, and voyages on the Great Lakes.—
Allison Tibaldi,
USA Today,
18 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
His father pardoned him on all charges after the 2024 election.—
Joseph Konig,
PEOPLE,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Hungary’s president at the time, Katalin Novák, had pardoned a former official convicted of helping cover up the abuse of underaged boys at a children’s home.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
12 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Excused.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excused. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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