1
as in explaining
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 glossing (over)
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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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for explaining away
Verb
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Shapiro even alluded to that fact when explaining his optimism that a deal will get done.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
22 Mar. 2025 -
Establishing how that golden age came about is easier than explaining the years of scarcity that followed.—
Rory Smith,
The Athletic,
22 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Reminds [me] also of the aggressors' narratives for justifying many other military interventions, occupations, and annexations in world history.—
Kevin Sabet,
Newsweek,
24 Mar. 2025
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On the other hand, proponents assert that a deep and competitive conference naturally improves the quality of its member teams, thereby justifying this approach.—
Sindiswa Mabunda,
Forbes,
19 Mar. 2025
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“Explaining away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explaining%20away. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
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