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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of justifying
Every department should be submitting regular reports justifying expenses, if not their own continued existence.
—
Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
There were outings when Flaherty looked every bit the best version of himself, justifying the Detroit Tigers’ decision to reunite with him after trading him at the 2024 deadline.
—Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2026
The Justice Department has not yet released a formal explanation justifying its redaction decisions.
—Nik Popli, Time, 10 Feb. 2026
And yet, major Jewish legacy organizations continue to insist that support for Israel requires denying the realities of occupation, justifying violence against Palestinians and rejecting Palestinian self-determination even while affirming the same for Jews.
—Rabbi Jill Jacobs, Sun Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2026
That, combined with the impending anniversary and the excuse of bringing it to more platforms and younger generations, is how this remake is justifying its existence.
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 6 Feb. 2026
As immigration sweeps and detentions have expanded in Minnesota and around the country, the work of justifying those detentions is overwhelming federal prosecutors, who are being forced to sideline a range of other criminal and civil cases in order to keep pace.
—Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
Who gets so far at work without thinking through — and long since justifying — the consequences?
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 29 Jan. 2026
Husband-chef and wife-farmer duo Kyle and Katina Connaughton are culinary dynamos who create pure magic on every plate served at SingleThread, more than justifying the lengthy waitlist for reservations.
—Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 21 Jan. 2026
Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
There were outings when Flaherty looked every bit the best version of himself, justifying the Detroit Tigers’ decision to reunite with him after trading him at the 2024 deadline.
—Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2026
The Justice Department has not yet released a formal explanation justifying its redaction decisions.
—Nik Popli, Time, 10 Feb. 2026
And yet, major Jewish legacy organizations continue to insist that support for Israel requires denying the realities of occupation, justifying violence against Palestinians and rejecting Palestinian self-determination even while affirming the same for Jews.
—Rabbi Jill Jacobs, Sun Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2026
That, combined with the impending anniversary and the excuse of bringing it to more platforms and younger generations, is how this remake is justifying its existence.
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 6 Feb. 2026
As immigration sweeps and detentions have expanded in Minnesota and around the country, the work of justifying those detentions is overwhelming federal prosecutors, who are being forced to sideline a range of other criminal and civil cases in order to keep pace.
—Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
Who gets so far at work without thinking through — and long since justifying — the consequences?
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 29 Jan. 2026
Husband-chef and wife-farmer duo Kyle and Katina Connaughton are culinary dynamos who create pure magic on every plate served at SingleThread, more than justifying the lengthy waitlist for reservations.
—Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 21 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for justifying
Verb
-
And Page [McConnell]is sitting backstage with him in one of the dressing rooms explaining that.—
Alison Weinflash,
Rolling Stone,
18 Feb. 2026
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Beyond Herrington, current Amazon CEO Andy Jassy has prioritized teaching and explaining Bezos’s principles internally, even launching video explanations of each one to help employees interpret them.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Olympics soon will be without Sweden’s defending champion men’s team, which was officially eliminated from semifinal contention on Tuesday after a sixth loss in seven matches in round-robin play.—
Steve Douglas,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Feb. 2026
-
The Riverside native and Santa Monica High graduate went on to win five consecutive fights defending her title and becoming a global superstar along the way.—
Brian Martin,
Oc Register,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
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
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But there’s no excusing Josh Allen’s four turnovers.—
Nick Canepa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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What role should the county judge play in maintaining civility on the commissioners court and in the audience?—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Anna and Robert, however, despair over the imminent disruption of the family unit, and drastic, escalatingly calamitous steps are taken toward maintaining the status quo.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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School administrators are squeezed between upholding the First Amendment rights of students and caving to pressures from Texas leaders who have warned of state takeovers.—
Jessica Ma,
Dallas Morning News,
18 Feb. 2026
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Let it not be lost that IOC is a Western institution that has an interest in upholding the way of life Russia threatens.—
Sean Strockyj,
New York Daily News,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Justifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/justifying. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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