Synonyms of explains away

explains away

verb

present tense third-person singular of explain away

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

• explains
• accounts (for)
• justifies
• attributes
• rationalizes
• condones
• excuses
• forgives
• exculpates
• exonerates
• absolves
• vindicates
• acquits

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

• explains
• excuses
• justifies
• deodorizes
• glosses (over)
• glozes (over)
• palliates
• extenuates
• plays down
• whitewashes
• confesses
• minimizes
• apologizes
• accounts (for)
• varnishes
• atones
• alleviates
• rationalizes
• softens
• moderates
• mitigates
• lightens
• tempers
• vindicates
• sugarcoats
• lessens
• exculpates
• acquits
• exonerates
• absolves
• eases
• soft-pedals
• clears