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
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However, Lobrillo explained, the county has, in the past, included a 2% increase annually in similar approvals.—
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
15 June 2026
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As Kristic explained, during the speculative post-Covid market, many galleries failed to consider the longer-term repercussions of raising the prices of ultra-contemporary works.—
Devorah Lauter,
ARTnews.com,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
Canada’s draw could be excused given injury absences.—
Ian Nicholas Quillen,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
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Dye was excused from practice for a personal matter.—
Daniel Popper,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
Verb
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Dual class share structures at Alphabet and Meta have been justified on precisely these grounds, and Musk has argued that the listing’s design will protect SpaceX’s long-term vision from activist pressure for more immediate profits.—
Mary Johnstone-Louis,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
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The officer in that case was acquitted of criminal charges and found justified in his use of force by a review board.—
TRAVIS LOLLER,
Arkansas Online,
20 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Explained away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explained%20away. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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