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
• rationales
• outs
• pretenses
• cop-outs
• 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

Arteta and Arsenal had no need for excuses this time around, though, with Martin Odegaard scoring a late winner after a convincing team performance at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. — Art De Roché, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

That’s not to make excuses, but to put in context, what is also a sputtering, screwball-y film about masculine roles in a waning patriarchal society. — Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026

With each passing year and each additional project, though, the room for excuses dwindles further. — Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 8 Sep. 2026

The lawsuit claims Smith and his partners never met the requirements for securing government funding and repeatedly made excuses for why the project wasn't proceeding or stopped responding to requests. — ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026

Determining success With each notable acquisition, UCLA loses possible excuses to blame for underachieving in Chesney’s first season. — Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 4 Sep. 2026

According to the complaint, Gilchrist would sporadically pay back his clients, but would come up with excuses such as government shutdowns and even claiming to be hospitalized to delay payments. — Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Sep. 2026

Stewart doesn’t make excuses for missing the targets, even though Goodyear’s business, like many, has been impacted by tariffs, inflated raw material costs, and the expansion of cheaper Chinese products. — Michael Wayland, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2026

When an offender’s circumstances overshadow accountability, explanations can become excuses and consequences lose meaning. — Laurie Myers, Boston Herald, 26 Aug. 2026

Verb

None of that excuses his behavior, but a change of brain function, rather than a change of heart, is something his constituents need to consider. — Michael P.h. Stanley, STAT, 10 Sep. 2026

Any person who celebrates, encourages, or excuses actions like these is fundamentally wrong. — Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026

For me, the larger question is not whether artistic behavior excuses transgression, but how to hold artistic achievement and ethical accountability together without allowing one to erase the other. — Andy Battaglia, ARTnews.com, 3 Aug. 2026

Instead, some attack our business's fees, as though changing the subject somehow excuses copying another company's intellectual property. — Brian Taylor, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

Because her beauty excuses all. — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 1 June 2026

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