1
as in explained
to give the reason for or cause of
after the surprise attack, military leaders struggled to explain away the nation's unpreparedness
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2
as in excused
to make (something) seem less bad by offering excuses
tried to explain away his adulterous affairs by saying that men are promiscuous by nature
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Recent Examples of explained away
Production is either exalted or explained away.
—
Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2026
The famed African American journalist investigated lynchings across the South and wrote about the savage incidents that the white press had already explained away.
—Case Thorp, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2026
Endometriosis has long been stigmatized and patient pain often explained away through other diagnoses, with the average diagnostic delay for endometriosis lasting four to 11 years.
—O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 26 Mar. 2026
Now, could it be maybe explained away?
—Lauren A. White, CBS News, 22 Feb. 2026
One downside of Oza’s model, Kipping notes, is that any fluctuations in the levels of sulfur dioxide, sodium and potassium observed on WASP-39b can be easily explained away as variability in eruptions.
—Nola Taylor Tillman, Scientific American, 13 Oct. 2025
Maybe the nuns could be transformed into spa therapists at a wellness retreat and the toxin explained away as a surfeit of matcha.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2026
The famed African American journalist investigated lynchings across the South and wrote about the savage incidents that the white press had already explained away.
—Case Thorp, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2026
Endometriosis has long been stigmatized and patient pain often explained away through other diagnoses, with the average diagnostic delay for endometriosis lasting four to 11 years.
—O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 26 Mar. 2026
Now, could it be maybe explained away?
—Lauren A. White, CBS News, 22 Feb. 2026
One downside of Oza’s model, Kipping notes, is that any fluctuations in the levels of sulfur dioxide, sodium and potassium observed on WASP-39b can be easily explained away as variability in eruptions.
—Nola Taylor Tillman, Scientific American, 13 Oct. 2025
Maybe the nuns could be transformed into spa therapists at a wellness retreat and the toxin explained away as a surfeit of matcha.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for explained away
Verb
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Talking to Vogue, Lauren Sánchez Bezos explained the inspiration behind her Schiaparelli gown.—
Dalila Muata,
NBC news,
5 May 2026
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Other factors, such as a decline in physical activity and hormonal shifts, play a role, Collen explained.—
Maggie O'Neill,
Verywell Health,
4 May 2026
Verb
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Journalists must avoid deception, but the primary instance when it may be excused is in deceiving certain sources during undercover investigations on an issue of public importance.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
7 May 2026
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If this was 2023 and the Lightning were coming off three successive Stanley Cup final appearances, a valiant first-round exit would be excused.—
John Romano,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 May 2026
Verb
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His attorney cited Meade's oral and written accounts of what happened, and said the shooting was justified.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 May 2026
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Authorities said a fourth one was ruled to be justified by self-defense.—
Rick Hurd,
Mercury News,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Explained away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explained%20away. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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