Synonyms of explain away

explain away

verb

1

as in to explain

to give the reason for or cause of

after the surprise attack, military leaders struggled to explain away the nation's unpreparedness

Synonyms & Similar Words

• explain
• account (for)
• justify
• rationalize
• attribute
• forgive
• excuse
• condone
• absolve
• vindicate
• exonerate
• acquit
• exculpate

2

as in to excuse

to make (something) seem less bad by offering excuses

tried to explain away his adulterous affairs by saying that men are promiscuous by nature

Synonyms & Similar Words

• explain
• excuse
• justify
• gloss (over)
• account (for)
• whitewash
• palliate
• gloze (over)
• confess
• deodorize
• extenuate
• play down
• minimize
• apologize
• alleviate
• varnish
• atone
• rationalize
• mitigate
• moderate
• lighten
• soften
• temper
• sugarcoat
• vindicate
• lessen
• ease
• absolve
• exonerate
• acquit
• exculpate
• soft-pedal
• clear

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of explain away

Those anemic numbers help explain the President’s mania for changing the subject to election fraud—laying the groundwork to explain away any losses in November, or, worse, something closer to what Himes warned about. — Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 17 July 2026

There are other options, but regardless of what’s on the table for the future, burnout deserves to be taken seriously rather than explained away out of pride, guilt, or habit. — Scott Hanson, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026

These subtle shifts are easy to explain away and even easier to ignore. — Tatiana Dias, Vogue, 30 June 2026

Certainly, there are swing issues that can’t be explained away by a good week at Triple-A. — John Shipley, Twin Cities, 29 May 2026