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
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of excuses
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
The first retailer to stop making excuses and actually guarantee their AI’s accuracy—taking financial responsibility for its mistakes—will win a level of consumer trust that no marketing campaign can buy.
—Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 13 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
Maria allegedly provided various excuses for the delay.
—Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026
All of a sudden, whenever the topic came up, their once-legitimate concerns about the future of the planet were recast as hand-wavey excuses, Caroline’s career setbacks as golden opportunities for pregnancy.
—Literary Hub, 9 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
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
The first retailer to stop making excuses and actually guarantee their AI’s accuracy—taking financial responsibility for its mistakes—will win a level of consumer trust that no marketing campaign can buy.
—Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 13 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
Maria allegedly provided various excuses for the delay.
—Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026
All of a sudden, whenever the topic came up, their once-legitimate concerns about the future of the planet were recast as hand-wavey excuses, Caroline’s career setbacks as golden opportunities for pregnancy.
—Literary Hub, 9 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
-
That critique also conveniently ignores how much of the existing media landscape was built on government largesse.—
Julian Baron,
Baltimore Sun,
19 Apr. 2026
-
In other words, the life-writer cannot take a doggedly factual approach that ignores a whole layer of emotional and imaginative experience.—
Sara Wheeler,
Big Think,
17 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
-
Jeff’s worries, Rogers explains to the camera after seeing his young friend off, are different from the worry that one’s parents might separate.—
Jean Garnett,
New Yorker,
18 Apr. 2026
-
Saliers further explains that the essential tremor has impacted the way the duo can perform some of their most notable harmonies.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
18 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In addition to the restricted access to the villages, Adraee warned against moving south of another 21 villages in the area for safety reasons.—
Will Clark,
NBC news,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Overall, the reasons for the decline are still debated.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
20 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
-
Hanson’s home is a quick golf-ride to the clubhouse and overlooks the driving range, as well as the first hole.—
David Caraccio,
Sacbee.com,
11 Apr. 2026
-
But Wiener—and, indeed, self-preferencing’s opponents in general—overlooks basic facts of the digital economy and, to justify his sweeping regulatory proposals, attaches ominous labels to ordinary conduct.—
David B Mcgarry,
Oc Register,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Excuses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excuses. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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