1
as in explaining
to be an acceptable reason for
you seem to think that losing a basketball game justifies a temper tantrum
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in defending
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 & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of justifying
Smith, the leading kratom researcher, has said the emphasis on semisynthetic 7-OH is odd because there is no evidence justifying it, and because the natural kratom alkaloid mitragynine still converts to 7-OH during manufacturing and in the body.
—
Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026
For CFOs, the challenge is justifying AI spending before returns are visible.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2026
While report language is not enforceable by law, it is commonly used as leverage that signals congressional intent and puts agencies on notice — those that ignore it risk a harder time justifying their budgets to the same committee next year.
—Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
Sheeran inserted language into the Medicaid settlement justifying the $10 million diversion on the grounds that the Hope Florida program would be expanding into Medicaid.
—Alexandra Glorioso, Miami Herald, 17 Mar. 2026
In justifying the bilateral talks, the Cuban president cited the country’s energy collapse, noting that some areas have gone more than 30 hours without power.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2026
Lee is justifying concentrating the funds in Oakland, given the city carries the majority of the county’s homelessness population.
—Kate Talerico, San Francisco Chronicle, 14 Mar. 2026
Violence in the backcountry between Americans and Native people intensified, fueled by rhetoric justifying atrocities and the expulsion of Indigenous nations to address Americans’ demand for new land.
—Literary Hub, 13 Mar. 2026
Fighting for its survival, Iran has the capacity to choke fossil-fuel markets by launching sporadic attacks on passing tankers, enough to deter companies and their insurers from justifying that risk.
—Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2026
Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026
For CFOs, the challenge is justifying AI spending before returns are visible.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2026
While report language is not enforceable by law, it is commonly used as leverage that signals congressional intent and puts agencies on notice — those that ignore it risk a harder time justifying their budgets to the same committee next year.
—Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
Sheeran inserted language into the Medicaid settlement justifying the $10 million diversion on the grounds that the Hope Florida program would be expanding into Medicaid.
—Alexandra Glorioso, Miami Herald, 17 Mar. 2026
In justifying the bilateral talks, the Cuban president cited the country’s energy collapse, noting that some areas have gone more than 30 hours without power.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2026
Lee is justifying concentrating the funds in Oakland, given the city carries the majority of the county’s homelessness population.
—Kate Talerico, San Francisco Chronicle, 14 Mar. 2026
Violence in the backcountry between Americans and Native people intensified, fueled by rhetoric justifying atrocities and the expulsion of Indigenous nations to address Americans’ demand for new land.
—Literary Hub, 13 Mar. 2026
Fighting for its survival, Iran has the capacity to choke fossil-fuel markets by launching sporadic attacks on passing tankers, enough to deter companies and their insurers from justifying that risk.
—Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for justifying
Verb
-
So the two simplest logical paths for explaining neutrino mass led to the same place.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
8 Apr. 2026
-
In these three hours, Euphoria is mostly just reassembling the board, explaining everyone’s lingering connections and building up to Nate and Cassie’s wedding.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Every Tuesday of tournament week, the defending champion chooses the menu for his fellow champions, and the lore of the occasion continues to grow.—
Don Riddell,
CNN Money,
7 Apr. 2026
-
The biggest name in the portal going to the defending national champions?—
Marisa Ingemi,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
And historians can talk about the Versailles treaty causing resentment in Germany, which led to the rise of Nazism in World War II, and that’s fine; that’s not excusing.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Apr. 2026
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Americans must hold the president to a higher standard and stop excusing him like a misbehaving child from a broken home.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Aquarians are all about maintaining the good of the group, and rarely like to cause havoc.—
Lisa Stardust,
PEOPLE,
4 Apr. 2026
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As undersea warfare becomes increasingly central to US naval strategy, the reentry of a modern Virginia-class submarine like USS New Jersey states the importance of maintaining a ready and capable attack submarine fleet.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Willy laments to his stout and thankless wife, Linda (Laurie Metcalf, upholding her reputation as a Broadway MVP), that buyers on the road laugh at him — that one even called him a shrimp.—
Naveen Kumar,
Variety,
10 Apr. 2026
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This past December, a judge overturned Jordan’s conviction and acquitted him, while upholding the verdict against Washington.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Justifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/justifying. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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