Synonyms of excuses

excuses 1 of 2

noun

plural of excuse

as in justifications

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

• justifications
• reasons
• apologies
• alibis
• pleas
• defenses
• pretexts
• rationalizations
• rationales
• outs
• pretenses
• cop-outs
• confessions
• vindications
• colors
• acknowledgments
• guises
• atonements
• whitewashes
• extenuations
• palliations

excuses

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of excuse

1

as in ignores

to dismiss as of little importance

more often than not, voters are willing to excuse a candidate's youthful indiscretion

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ignores
• forgives
• justifies
• pardons
• explains
• overlooks
• discounts
• forgives and forgets
• disregards
• papers over
• shrugs off
• passes over
• whitewashes
• condones
• brushes (aside or off)
• remits
• blinks (at)
• overpasses
• glosses (over)
• winks (at)
• rationalizes
• exculpates
• glozes (over)
• exonerates
• absolves
• closes one's eyes to
• waves (aside or off)
• vindicates
• acquits
• waives
• clears

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• minds
• notes
• objects (to)
• marks
• heeds

2

as in justifies

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

• justifies
• explains
• alibis
• accounts (for)
• rationalizes
• ignores
• explains away
• condones
• brushes (aside or off)
• forgives
• pardons
• passes over
• winks (at)
• shrugs off
• glosses (over)
• disregards
• remits
• glozes (over)

3

as in explains

to make (something) seem less bad by offering excuses

he's always excusing his chronic lying by claiming that everybody lies

Synonyms & Similar Words

• justifies
• explains
• extenuates
• explains away
• palliates
• glosses (over)
• whitewashes
• apologizes
• deodorizes
• accounts (for)
• confesses
• rationalizes
• minimizes
• glozes (over)
• varnishes
• atones
• sugarcoats
• exculpates
• plays down
• moderates
• exonerates
• alleviates
• absolves
• mitigates
• tempers
• vindicates
• soft-pedals
• lessens
• softens
• eases
• acquits
• lightens
• clears

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of excuses

Noun

At 3-6, the Buffs have little room left for redemption, but even less for excuses. —Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025

All in all, this fat-tire bruiser delivers pure, unapologetic freedom… with no excuses, and no limits. —New Atlas, 30 Oct. 2025

That’s not surprising, but no excuses. —Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2025

The San Francisco 49ers are one of the most banged up teams in the entire NFL, but head coach Kyle Shanahan isn't interested in excuses. —Max Dible, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025

The conditions offered Miami no excuses. —Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2025

Wear them on a casual hike or during your morning coffee run—you’ll find endless excuses to break them out of your suitcase this season. —Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 18 Oct. 2025

While other parts of the county got cleaner water, stronger investments and faster government responses, our community got excuses. —Paloma Aguirre, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Oct. 2025

The lead actors likewise find the balance between understanding these people and making excuses for them. —Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2025

Verb

Their cry is not against the faith itself but against distorted theology that excuses cruelty. —Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025

When Glenna excuses herself to go check on Lady Ellen, Julia thanks the woman and then proceeds to sneakily follow her straight up to Ellen’s quarters. —Lincee Ray Published, EW.com, 22 Aug. 2025