Synonyms of justifying

justifying

verb

present participle of justify

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

• explaining
• excusing
• ignoring
• rationalizing
• accounting (for)
• condoning
• disregarding
• alibiing
• forgiving
• brushing (aside or off)
• explaining away
• winking (at)
• pardoning
• passing over
• remitting
• glossing (over)
• shrugging off
• glozing (over)

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

• defending
• maintaining
• upholding
• supporting
• advocating
• asserting
• affirming
• proclaiming
• discussing
• confirming
• insisting
• championing
• vindicating
• stating
• arguing
• sticking up for
• pleading
• claiming
• protesting
• standing up for
• emphasizing
• debating
• espousing
• contending
• warranting
• professing
• averring
• stressing
• underscoring
• underlining
• avowing
• avouching

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• abandoning
• withdrawing
• retracting
• forsaking
• reversing
• switching
• taking back
• refuting
• recanting
• abjuring
• disproving
• rebutting
• controverting

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of justifying

Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right government in Israel is using ancient archaeological heritage as a tool for justifying the seizure of Palestinian land in the West Bank, reports the Financial Times. — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 24 Sep. 2026

Trump had not previously cited national security in justifying the ban. — Dan Mangan, CNBC, 21 Sep. 2026

Newsom rejected a similar bill in 2024, after UC regents reversed their support for the policy and as fears grew that the state could face federal repercussions by justifying the hiring under a theory developed by UCLA legal scholars. — Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026

Transparency without context can breed distrust, because disclosing a number is not the same as justifying it, and both expectations and the law have moved on. — Aniela Unguresan, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2026

That is why parents, and moms in particular, who historically have taken on most of the child care work and labor in the home—have trouble justifying rest. — Parents, 28 Aug. 2026

Former grand mufti Ahmad Badreddine Hassoun, an Assad loyalist who was vocally in support of the government's policies, was convicted of inciting violence and justifying murder. — ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026

Only medical reasons can be used in justifying concurrent surrogacy, and a qualified physician must attest to them in writing. — Arthur L. Caplan, STAT, 18 Aug. 2026

Some hailed McDonnell as an Anna Delvey-type scammer, justifying her brazen ripoff of faceless lenders by scoffing at the idea that society should feel sympathy for giant corporate entities. — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 11 Aug. 2026