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
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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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
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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
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The way the righthander has been closing games for the Rays, one can be excused for thinking Baker walks on water.—
Tom Layberger,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
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These benefits can be extended if residents are working, excused from the work requirement or are living in a county that waives the work requirement.—
Lizzie Kane,
Sacbee.com,
10 June 2026
Verb
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This massive financial scaling is justified by intense business momentum.—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
12 June 2026
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Routine matters might be handled internally or deferred, while more significant issues justified the cost of external counsel.—
Joseph Andrew,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Explained away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explained%20away. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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