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
• pretences
• rationales
• outs
• pretenses
• cop-outs
• acknowledgements
• 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

The Washbergs, Blackie and Berta, and Allen the ginger skinhead — right now, the who-, why-, and howdunits feel tacked on, excuses to watch Lee unravel, rather than the cause of his unraveling. —Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2025

Make sure there’s no excuses here. —Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 29 Sep. 2025

Several excuses given for not having a resource officer present strained credulity. —Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 29 Sep. 2025

Carlos Correa, one of the team's three trade deadline acquisitions, didn't make excuses for the team's disappointment. —Drew Vonscio, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025

There’s no excuses for anything. —Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 28 Sep. 2025

And yet in 2025, fashion houses such as Dolce & Gabbana and Dior are using this year’s Vatican Jubilee as one of many excuses to move their runway shows to the Eternal City. —Nikki Ekstein, Boston Herald, 21 Sep. 2025

Stop making excuses and live your wildest business dreams. —Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025

When sheriff’s deputies were raiding his home in May, Mutch had excuses for both alleged crimes, according to the criminal complaint. —Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 16 Sep. 2025

Verb

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