1
as in explains
to be an acceptable reason for
you seem to think that losing a basketball game justifies a temper tantrum
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2
as in defends
to continue to declare to be true or proper despite opposition or objections
failed to justify the need for a war at this time
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Recent Examples of justifies
Satisfy gets a lot of flack for its prices, but this running jacket justifies the price tag thanks to its effective modularity and (extremely) lightweight design.
—
Will Porter, Outside, 4 Jan. 2026
While there are legitimate concerns throughout the Midwest about future reliability due to new data centers and their substantial power consumption, there is no looming emergency that justifies the administration’s action here.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026
This bout of judicial activism justifies itself as reconciliation.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 27 Dec. 2025
Transparency builds the trust that justifies the price.
—Peter Su, Rolling Stone, 9 Dec. 2025
And the interpretation of this, that if maybe there were still drugs somewhere on that boat, that justifies the use of deadly force is an incredible expansion of presidential power.
—ABC News, 7 Dec. 2025
However, the white paper justifies China's development of missile defense capabilities, saying it is motivated solely by self-defense and does not target any country or region.
—Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2025
In Wisconsin, a clerk may ask couples to provide their religious affiliation that justifies self-solemnization.
—Jacob Wilt, jsonline.com, 26 Nov. 2025
Lawsuits require time, documentation and money, so debt collectors generally weigh whether the amount owed justifies the effort.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 25 Nov. 2025
Will Porter, Outside, 4 Jan. 2026
While there are legitimate concerns throughout the Midwest about future reliability due to new data centers and their substantial power consumption, there is no looming emergency that justifies the administration’s action here.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026
This bout of judicial activism justifies itself as reconciliation.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 27 Dec. 2025
Transparency builds the trust that justifies the price.
—Peter Su, Rolling Stone, 9 Dec. 2025
And the interpretation of this, that if maybe there were still drugs somewhere on that boat, that justifies the use of deadly force is an incredible expansion of presidential power.
—ABC News, 7 Dec. 2025
However, the white paper justifies China's development of missile defense capabilities, saying it is motivated solely by self-defense and does not target any country or region.
—Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2025
In Wisconsin, a clerk may ask couples to provide their religious affiliation that justifies self-solemnization.
—Jacob Wilt, jsonline.com, 26 Nov. 2025
Lawsuits require time, documentation and money, so debt collectors generally weigh whether the amount owed justifies the effort.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 25 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for justifies
Verb
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Accidental ingestion is safe for healthy adults, says Wang, who explains that the hard outer coating of citrus seeds prevents the release of potential toxins, allowing the seeds to pass through the body undigested.—
Stacey Lastoe,
Southern Living,
30 Jan. 2026
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Carmi explains that progress was not linear for him, but the journey still feels well worth the challenges.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights organizes, educates, and defends immigrant communities, pairing on-the-ground support with an unflinching push for a more humane national policy.—
Dev Patnaik,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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Sins of Kujo, adapted from Shohei Manabe’s manga, casts Yuya Yagira as a morally ambiguous lawyer who defends society’s most reprehensible figures, a dark, adult-skewing legal drama.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Athletic maintains full editorial independence.—
Data Skrive,
New York Times,
8 Jan. 2026
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Gonzales has pleaded not guilty and his legal team maintains he's being scapegoated.—
Peter Charalambous,
ABC News,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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That support has given me the strength to keep pushing forward, for integrity, accountability, and a sport that truly upholds the values that brought us together to compete.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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The statement said Caldwell upholds the rights to peaceful assembly and free speech guaranteed in the First Amendment, and said Caldwell Police Department officers and other public safety agencies would be present.—
Shannon Tyler,
Idaho Statesman,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Justifies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/justifies. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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