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
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Recent Examples of excuses
Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 7 Feb. 2026
No matter the schedule, no matter who’s out, there are no excuses.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 4 Feb. 2026
This series, wisely, does not attempt to psychoanalyze Smith or make excuses for the reports of his behavior.
—Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2026
But there weren’t excuses for every team.
—Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
But no excuses, not in this one, even with the Heat getting 21 points and 11 rebounds from Bam Adebayo, not with the Heat committing 19 turnovers and shooting 13 of 47 on 3-pointers.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2026
Making up excuses for things not to go perfectly would have been easy with the team dealing with illnesses.
—Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
Instead of making excuses or shifting blame, a green flag is being able to own your mistakes and make amends.
—Essence, 28 Jan. 2026
No excuses and no explanations.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 28 Jan. 2026
David Remnick, New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2026
For true Second Amendment advocates, Pretti’s decision to bring a gun to a protest in no way excuses his killing.
—The Atlantic, 26 Jan. 2026
Nick excuses the killing of Renee Good for blocking traffic, but the videos clearly show that traffic was going around her.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 14 Jan. 2026
Researchers emphasized that none of these conditions excuses Hitler’s actions or policies.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 14 Nov. 2025
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
Noun
Stop making excuses, show some leadership and act like a governor, Maura Healey.
—Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 7 Feb. 2026
No matter the schedule, no matter who’s out, there are no excuses.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 4 Feb. 2026
This series, wisely, does not attempt to psychoanalyze Smith or make excuses for the reports of his behavior.
—Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2026
But there weren’t excuses for every team.
—Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
But no excuses, not in this one, even with the Heat getting 21 points and 11 rebounds from Bam Adebayo, not with the Heat committing 19 turnovers and shooting 13 of 47 on 3-pointers.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2026
Making up excuses for things not to go perfectly would have been easy with the team dealing with illnesses.
—Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
Instead of making excuses or shifting blame, a green flag is being able to own your mistakes and make amends.
—Essence, 28 Jan. 2026
No excuses and no explanations.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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
For true Second Amendment advocates, Pretti’s decision to bring a gun to a protest in no way excuses his killing.
—The Atlantic, 26 Jan. 2026
Nick excuses the killing of Renee Good for blocking traffic, but the videos clearly show that traffic was going around her.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 14 Jan. 2026
Researchers emphasized that none of these conditions excuses Hitler’s actions or policies.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 14 Nov. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for excuses
Noun
-
So while the balance-sheet justifications might shift, the general logic won’t.—
Clio Chang,
Curbed,
30 Jan. 2026
-
In a somewhat baffling aside that failed to meet the moment, Jordan Klepper popped in, supposedly live from Minneapolis, to satirize the ever-shifting goalposts of the administration’s justifications for Pretti’s death.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Importantly, the survey also points to a potential de-escalator that Carlson ignores.—
Robert Pape,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Feb. 2026
-
If someone ignores your text, try asking a follow-up question (or calling them, because tone may travel poorly over screens).—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
At the same time, Maryland has lost approximately 130,000 residents since Moore took office, yet the budget justifies hundreds of millions in housing and community revitalization spending based on population growth assumptions that do not match reality.—
J.B. Jennings,
Baltimore Sun,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Today’s chip valuations have also already priced in years of double-digit growth, so any friction in the buildout justifies short-term selloffs.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Guthrie explains experiences like this taught her faith is forged, not in moments of ease or happiness, but in the lowest points of adversity.—
Chelsea Bailey,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Whitwam explains that Catalina mule deer hunting was traditionally reserved for island residents and their guests, or hunters who were willing to book with a local guide.—
Kris Millgate,
Outdoor Life,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Despite the fact that South Korea is obviously, for very understandable reasons, suspicious about Japanese nationalism.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The judge cited the 23-year-old defendant's potential for rehabilitation and difficult upbringing as reasons for the lower sentence.—
Monroe Trombly,
Louisville Courier Journal,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The bottom line There is no federal program that directly forgives or restructures credit card debt, but that doesn't mean borrowers are stuck.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
8 Dec. 2025
-
Sinnott forgives his parents, and parents today who waver on vaccination.—
Arthur Allen,
Miami Herald,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
These changes would ensure a more merciful society, one that pardons in the name not of a sovereign president, but of the people.—
Bernadette Meyler,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
-
May 29 — In one of many conciliatory moves toward the hip-hop community, Trump pardons Young Boy NBA on a guns conviction.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
There is plenty more to discover in Saadiyat, where the 295-room Jumeirah Saadiyat Island, which overlooks the Gulf, makes for a sumptuous home base.—
John Arlidge,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Feb. 2026
-
The focus on treatment over vaccination also overlooks the fact that no measles infection is risk-free.—
Elizabeth Yuko,
Rolling Stone,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Excuses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excuses. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
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