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
Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 7 May 2026
Wallstedt made no excuses for the roughest outing of his seven career playoff starts, acknowledging that Colorado, with its hockey version of fast break offense, is a much different challenge than Dallas, which played a more meticulous and patient offensive game.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 4 May 2026
Not all explanations are excuses.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 May 2026
No more hiding behind process or excuses.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 4 May 2026
There are at least three good excuses to do just that.
—Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Apr. 2026
At Dos Pueblos High in Goleta, baseball coach George Hedricks needed no excuses to start freshman Mattias Di Maggio, considering last name of DiMaggio is one of the best baseball names in the history of the sport.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
According to Joubert, the excuses started piling up.
—Abby Dodge, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
The same goes for Humbert Humbert from Vladimir Nabokov’s controversial novel Lolita, a pedophile with a silver tongue who conjures up excuses for his inexcusable actions.
—Big Think, 29 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
Now, with a new head coach, new quarterback and a 12-team College Football Playoff, the excuses for the Nittany Lions to not make it to the postseason are running out.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 7 May 2026
Wallstedt made no excuses for the roughest outing of his seven career playoff starts, acknowledging that Colorado, with its hockey version of fast break offense, is a much different challenge than Dallas, which played a more meticulous and patient offensive game.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 4 May 2026
Not all explanations are excuses.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 May 2026
No more hiding behind process or excuses.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 4 May 2026
There are at least three good excuses to do just that.
—Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Apr. 2026
At Dos Pueblos High in Goleta, baseball coach George Hedricks needed no excuses to start freshman Mattias Di Maggio, considering last name of DiMaggio is one of the best baseball names in the history of the sport.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
According to Joubert, the excuses started piling up.
—Abby Dodge, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
The same goes for Humbert Humbert from Vladimir Nabokov’s controversial novel Lolita, a pedophile with a silver tongue who conjures up excuses for his inexcusable actions.
—Big Think, 29 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
-
Soldier Field, Rate Field and even Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis loom over the landscape, marking steel and concrete warnings and justifications for a new stadium deal.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
4 May 2026
-
Southern states were expert at constructing race-neutral justifications for racially discriminatory outcomes.—
Alvin C. Hathaway Sr,
Baltimore Sun,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
There is an attitude among many in the legislature that children under five belong at home with mom, which ignores the economic reality facing Idaho families.—
Nicole Blanchard,
Idaho Statesman,
8 May 2026
-
Far too often, housing analysis ignores job creation.—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
That’s an acute disconnect for early-career filmmakers weighing whether the traditional path justifies the cost and risk.—
Dana Harris-Bridson,
IndieWire,
8 May 2026
-
But none of this justifies standing still.—
Peter S. Hendricks,
STAT,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Aubrey explains that discussing difficult topics openly has become a central part of the podcast’s purpose, particularly when those topics are often avoided in everyday conversation.—
Malana VanTyler,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
-
Advertisement Travers explains that this has consequences for the whole of British politics, as its parliamentary system is not designed to host a wide range of parties.—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
With the exception of the punitive visit to the bank, Suzanna’s grandmother does not discuss her daughter’s crime or her reasons for committing it.—
James Wood,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
The government exists to create the environment where these technologies can help Californians to flourish, not limit them for sometimes political reasons, which is always overreach.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Oc Register,
4 May 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
-
The oceanfront pool gets busy by day, and the motel is best known for Lemon Bar, which overlooks the pool and beach and is a favorite among locals.—
Terry Ward,
Travel + Leisure,
9 May 2026
-
The window next to my desk overlooks the gym’s large communal exercise room, and throughout the day, I am taunted by the sight of gyrating bodies panting through a Zumba class or a kettlebell set.—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Excuses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excuses. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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