1
as in explains
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 excuses
to make (something) seem less bad by offering excuses
tried to explain away his adulterous affairs by saying that men are promiscuous by nature
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for explains away
Verb
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The combination probably explains the excessive growth, turning the water surface an opaque green and preventing onlookers from seeing the new blue hue of the concrete basin.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2026 -
Leus explains that the INXS tune was important to the filmmakers and encapsulated the relationship between Jo and Raissa.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
19 June 2026
Verb
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In another instance, Mecklenburg allegedly excuses skeptical grand jurors from serving after arguing with them.—
Hannah Meisel,
CBS News,
9 June 2026
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With no more patients in the waiting room, Dua excuses herself to see Haynes in the OR, where medical resident Lee has begun the procedure.—
Elizabeth Cooney,
STAT,
8 June 2026
Verb
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Lestat justifies his, uh, connection with Gabriella by arguing that vampires transcend petty human concepts like conventional morality.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
7 June 2026
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Each new layer of ambition justifies a higher valuation, but the economics have not yet caught up with the narrative.—
Rory McDonald,
Fortune,
6 June 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Explains away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explains%20away. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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