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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
When a conversation ends without a real answer, when a situation is explained away rather than actually explained, the discomfort is not neurotic or petty.
—
Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 30 May 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
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
Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 30 May 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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for explained away
Verb
-
The governor has previously explained that difficult decisions must be made as the state could soon face an economic downturn.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
-
The recent fire heavily damaged the structure, and a structural assessment found that what remains is not salvageable, DPR explained.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
The manager excused herself and another employee arrived to help.—
Silas Morgan,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 June 2026
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DeMarvion Overshown has excused absence Linebacker DeMarvion Overshown was the only player on defense not at practice, as he was excused on Thursday to prepare for his wedding Saturday in Tyler.—
Nick Harris
June 4,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
But Braves manager Walt Weiss penciled in Mauricio Dubón again at shortstop Friday night, and Dubón once again justified his faith.—
Ken Sugiura,
AJC.com,
6 June 2026
-
Star City intended to ask the town for exemptions from several zoning rules, but argued that the request was justified because the tract is best used for housing despite being close to the Berlin Turnpike.—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Explained away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explained%20away. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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