as in excuses
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 justifications
To say nothing about the thorny question of its genre—do Eastern European writers need to provide more explanations and justifications when using the technique of autofiction?
—
Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
Traditionally, one of the key justifications for teamwork has been its psychological benefits—the energy that comes from collaboration, the reduced stress of shared responsibility, the excitement of building on each other’s ideas.
—François Candelon, Fortune, 31 Oct. 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
Local leaders, on the other hand, continued to push back on the administration's justifications and the administration's characterizations of violence in their cities.
—Megan Forrester, ABC News, 9 Oct. 2025
One of Russia's justifications for launching its war against Ukraine was to thwart Kyiv's ambitions to join NATO, which Moscow regards as a serious threat to its national security.
—Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
Factionalism, doctrine, ground rules, justifications are, in Anderson’s film, irrelevant, meaning that French 75’s actions take place in an intellectual void.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2025
Where differences of opinion become justifications for violence.
—Margie Warrell, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
The justifications are endless, as are the streams of books and websites making the case.
—Naomi S. Baron, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2025
Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
Traditionally, one of the key justifications for teamwork has been its psychological benefits—the energy that comes from collaboration, the reduced stress of shared responsibility, the excitement of building on each other’s ideas.
—François Candelon, Fortune, 31 Oct. 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
Local leaders, on the other hand, continued to push back on the administration's justifications and the administration's characterizations of violence in their cities.
—Megan Forrester, ABC News, 9 Oct. 2025
One of Russia's justifications for launching its war against Ukraine was to thwart Kyiv's ambitions to join NATO, which Moscow regards as a serious threat to its national security.
—Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
Factionalism, doctrine, ground rules, justifications are, in Anderson’s film, irrelevant, meaning that French 75’s actions take place in an intellectual void.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2025
Where differences of opinion become justifications for violence.
—Margie Warrell, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
The justifications are endless, as are the streams of books and websites making the case.
—Naomi S. Baron, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for justifications
Noun
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The prosecutor’s spokesperson said Yeo was making excuses that did not make sense about the notes discovered on his mobile phone.—
Reuters 2 hr ago,
CNN Money,
10 Nov. 2025
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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
Noun
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Human rights organizations have renewed their criticism, airing concerns about the persecution of dissent in a country where more than 800 people are behind bars for political reasons, according to the legal rights organization Foro Penal.—
Stefano Pozzebon,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
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Lea is an Elko protégé and could appeal to PSU for many of the same reasons.—
Nelson Espinal,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Justifications.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/justifications. Accessed 28 Nov. 2025.
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