as in excuse
an explanation that frees one from fault or blame
offered a weak justification for why he was so late
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Recent Examples of justification
One explanation Al-Jaber cited for the switch is AI data centers, which have become Big Oil’s go-to justification for a rapid buildout of new fossil infrastructure.
—
Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Newsom accused the administration of using protests in June as an excuse to take over the Guard and use it throughout the country, whether or not there is legal justification to do so.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 3 Nov. 2025
This was the justification for the invasion of Iraq.
—David Smilde, Time, 3 Nov. 2025
The acknowledgment of privilege and the rebuke of its self-serving justifications for oppression is another motif in Gunn’s work.
—Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for justification
Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Newsom accused the administration of using protests in June as an excuse to take over the Guard and use it throughout the country, whether or not there is legal justification to do so.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 3 Nov. 2025
This was the justification for the invasion of Iraq.
—David Smilde, Time, 3 Nov. 2025
The acknowledgment of privilege and the rebuke of its self-serving justifications for oppression is another motif in Gunn’s work.
—Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for justification
Recent Examples of Synonyms for justification
Noun
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Yes, potential excuses exist, such as the Tigers’ switch to Daniels, a senior Stanford transfer whose tremendous performance (353 yards passing and two touchdowns, 89 yards rushing and two touchdowns) demands the question of why Freeze didn’t turn the offense over to him weeks ago.—
Joe Rexrode,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
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No excuses, but there were two reasons for wearing it.—
Becca Longmire,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Part of the reason why there are so few of these conversations about podcasting is a general lack of criticism for narrative audio.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
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What's really behind the baby bust The reasons Americans choose not to have children are hotly debated in academic circles, with many attributing America’s baby bust to shifting priorities and societal norms.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Justification.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/justification. Accessed 18 Nov. 2025.
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