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justify

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of justify

1 to be an acceptable reason for
  • He tried to justify his behavior by saying everyone else was doing it too.
Synonyms of justify

excuse
Words Related to justify

account (for), explain, explain away, rationalize

brush (aside or off), condone, disregard, forgive, gloss (over), gloze (over), ignore, pardon, pass over, remit, shrug off, wink (at)
2 to continue to declare to be true or proper despite opposition or objections
  • failed to justify the need for a war at this time
Synonyms of justify

defend, maintain, support, uphold
Words Related to justify

advocate, champion, espouse

confirm, vindicate, warrant

affirm, assert, aver, avouch, avow, claim, contend, insist, plead, proclaim, profess, protest, state

argue, debate, discuss

emphasize, stress, underline, underscore
Phrases Synonymous with justify

stand up for, stick up for
Near Antonyms of justify

abandon, abjure, forsake, recant, retract, take back, withdraw

reverse, switch

controvert, disprove, rebut, refute

Synonym Discussion of justify

maintain, assert, defend, vindicate, justify mean to uphold as true, right, just, or reasonable. maintain stresses firmness of conviction.
    • steadfastly maintained his innocence
assert suggests determination to make others accept one's claim.
    • asserted her rights
defend implies maintaining in the face of attack or criticism.
    • defended his voting record
vindicate implies successfully defending.
    • his success vindicated our faith in him
justify implies showing to be true, just, or valid by appeal to a standard or to precedent.
    • the action was used to justify military intervention

Learn More about justify

  1. See words that rhyme with justify Dictionary: Definition of justify Spanish Central: Translation of justify Nglish: Translation of justify for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of justify for Arabic speakers

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