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
Relevance
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of excuses
Glamour, 25 Apr. 2026
Yet both Piker and Tolentino move from discussing nonlethal crimes of nuisance and destruction to making excuses for murder.
—Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026
Something is reaching a turning point… and this moon wants action, not excuses!
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026
But the Padres sale demonstrates that despite the excuses and gaslighting, the fastest way MLB owners could increase their franchise values is by spending money on players.
—Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 17 Apr. 2026
No more making excuses to look at your phone and ignore others.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026
The European Union is giving tech companies no more excuses to implement age checks for social media users.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 16 Apr. 2026
No more excuses about injuries or chemistry or timing.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2026
But the staggering amount of money poured into this club by BlueCo over the past three years drowns out all attempts at mitigation and erases all excuses.
—Liam Twomey, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2026
NBC news, 12 Apr. 2026
Continue reading … MEDIA HALL PASS — Nashville public school excuses Muslim students for daily prayer time during Ramadan.
—FOXNews.com, 9 Apr. 2026
And while absolutely none of that excuses my actions, that's what happened.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026
None of that excuses the crimes.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 10 Mar. 2026
Lost Lambs features an all-white cast in an anonymous American suburb, which excuses Cash from having to engage head-on with race.
—Malavika Kannan, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2026
In professional sports, excuses age quickly.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2026
The rep excuses herself; in the hallway, Stephen congratulates Lucy.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 17 Feb. 2026
So people tend to define antisemitism in a way that excuses their side, and that throws all of the blame on the other side.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2026
Noun
Venus and Saturn make this full moon the right time to finally take a look at your figures without excuses.
—Glamour, 25 Apr. 2026
Yet both Piker and Tolentino move from discussing nonlethal crimes of nuisance and destruction to making excuses for murder.
—Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026
Something is reaching a turning point… and this moon wants action, not excuses!
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026
But the Padres sale demonstrates that despite the excuses and gaslighting, the fastest way MLB owners could increase their franchise values is by spending money on players.
—Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 17 Apr. 2026
No more making excuses to look at your phone and ignore others.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026
The European Union is giving tech companies no more excuses to implement age checks for social media users.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 16 Apr. 2026
No more excuses about injuries or chemistry or timing.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2026
But the staggering amount of money poured into this club by BlueCo over the past three years drowns out all attempts at mitigation and erases all excuses.
—Liam Twomey, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2026
Verb
The Justice Department says Bondi’s ouster excuses her from having to appear.
—NBC news, 12 Apr. 2026
Continue reading … MEDIA HALL PASS — Nashville public school excuses Muslim students for daily prayer time during Ramadan.
—FOXNews.com, 9 Apr. 2026
And while absolutely none of that excuses my actions, that's what happened.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026
None of that excuses the crimes.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 10 Mar. 2026
Lost Lambs features an all-white cast in an anonymous American suburb, which excuses Cash from having to engage head-on with race.
—Malavika Kannan, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2026
In professional sports, excuses age quickly.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2026
The rep excuses herself; in the hallway, Stephen congratulates Lucy.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 17 Feb. 2026
So people tend to define antisemitism in a way that excuses their side, and that throws all of the blame on the other side.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for excuses
Noun
-
Grove said the agency’s justifications for consolidating offices in Salt Lake City, Utah, don’t make sense.—
Karl Hille,
Baltimore Sun,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The numbers and justifications don’t add up.—
Kristen Monsell,
Sun Sentinel,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The notion that Related is a rapacious developer being handed a giveaway ignores the history.—
Peter Peyser,
New York Daily News,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The authors take aim at TRIPS and TRIPS-Plus agreements by stressing the dangers of a colonialism of information that ignores individual countries’ political and economic circumstances.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The bulls claim that trend justifies today’s valuations, and that EPS can keep rolling in double-digits while national income trudges at a nominal 5% or so.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
19 Apr. 2026
-
For those willing to make the trip, the standard of care justifies every mile.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Mike Jones of The Athletic explains why the lack of top-tier quarterback prospects beyond Fernando Mendoza limits the intrigue typically expected of NFL drafts.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Each mural is accompanied by a link to the project’s website, which explains its mission and provides background on and pictures of each plant species featured in the murals.—
Madeline King,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Of course, artists make choices in biographical shows for a whole variety of reasons, whether in service of the storytelling, to appease those who would prefer to remain anonymous or even self-protection.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
-
One of the primary reasons that some car buyers avoid vehicles with electric powertrains is the lengthy duration of charging sessions.—
Charles Singh,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
While The Pitt forgives and empathizes with Robby’s flaws, Robby is not called on to extend that empathy to others.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
17 Apr. 2026
-
There is no blanket federal program that automatically forgives credit card debt simply because someone is a veteran.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
President Kennedy pardons his predecessor, Nixon, for his involvement in the Watergate scandal.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Being the president and all, Richard pardons himself and Jenny.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Its Southern-style porch overlooks the ocean as well as the property’s butterfly garden, giving the space an extra boost of romance.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The neighborhood/area Le Negresco overlooks the Promenade des Anglais, a four-mile stretch from the airport to Old Town along the water, lined with hotels and restaurants and the Casino de Nice.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Excuses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excuses. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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