EXCUSE Synonyms: 79 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'excuse' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of excuse are alibi , apologia , apology , plea , and pretext . While all these words mean "matter offered in explanation or defense," excuse implies an intent to avoid or remove blame or censure. // used illness as an excuse for missing the meeting

Q: When could 'alibi' be used to replace 'excuse'?

The meanings of alibi and excuse largely overlap; however, alibi implies a desire to shift blame or evade punishment and imputes mere plausibility to the explanation. // his alibi failed to stand scrutiny

Q: When might 'apologia' be a better fit than 'excuse'?

While the synonyms apologia and excuse are close in meaning, apologia implies not admission of guilt or regret but a desire to make clear the grounds for some course, belief, or position. // his speech was an apologia for his foreign policy

Q: When can 'apology' be used instead of 'excuse'?

Although the words apology and excuse have much in common, apology usually applies to an expression of regret for a mistake or wrong with implied admission of guilt or fault and with or without reference to mitigating or extenuating circumstances. // said by way of apology that he would have met them if he could

Q: When would 'plea' be a good substitute for 'excuse'?

While in some cases nearly identical to excuse , plea stresses argument or appeal for understanding or sympathy or mercy. // her usual plea that she was nearsighted

Q: Where would 'pretext' be a reasonable alternative to 'excuse'?

The words pretext and excuse are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, pretext suggests subterfuge and the offering of false reasons or motives in excuse or explanation. // used any pretext to get out of work

excuse 1 of 2

noun

ik-ˈskyüs

Definition of excuse next

as in justification

an explanation that frees one from fault or blame "a really important business call" is no excuse for not paying proper attention to one's driving

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

excuse

2 of 2

verb

ik-ˈskyüz

as in to ignore

to dismiss as of little importance more often than not, voters are willing to excuse a candidate's youthful indiscretion

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to justify

to be an acceptable reason for having a female passenger in labor will generally excuse a little disregard for the speed limit

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to explain

to make (something) seem less bad by offering excuses he's always excusing his chronic lying by claiming that everybody lies

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun excuse contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of excuse are alibi, apologia, apology, plea, and pretext. While all these words mean "matter offered in explanation or defense," excuse implies an intent to avoid or remove blame or censure.

used illness as an excuse for missing the meeting

When could alibi be used to replace excuse?

The meanings of alibi and excuse largely overlap; however, alibi implies a desire to shift blame or evade punishment and imputes mere plausibility to the explanation.

his alibi failed to stand scrutiny

When might apologia be a better fit than excuse?

While the synonyms apologia and excuse are close in meaning, apologia implies not admission of guilt or regret but a desire to make clear the grounds for some course, belief, or position.

his speech was an apologia for his foreign policy

When can apology be used instead of excuse?

Although the words apology and excuse have much in common, apology usually applies to an expression of regret for a mistake or wrong with implied admission of guilt or fault and with or without reference to mitigating or extenuating circumstances.

said by way of apology that he would have met them if he could

When would plea be a good substitute for excuse?

While in some cases nearly identical to excuse, plea stresses argument or appeal for understanding or sympathy or mercy.

her usual plea that she was nearsighted

Where would pretext be a reasonable alternative to excuse?

The words pretext and excuse are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, pretext suggests subterfuge and the offering of false reasons or motives in excuse or explanation.

used any pretext to get out of work

Examples of excuse in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Lululemon Align High-Rise Ribbed Mini-Flare Pant Autumn's arrival offers the perfect excuse to update your wardrobe with functional staples, like this pair of Align leggings. —

Averi Baudler, Peoplemag, 15 Aug. 2024 Knowing how tight his friend’s margins were, Philbrick nevertheless stalled on the five-hundred-thousand-dollar payment, proffering low-effort excuses and imperious advice about managing client expectations and ignoring Whitfield’s frantic calls for two weeks. —

Rosa Lyster, The New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2024

Verb

American officials came to excuse the dubious cast of characters that populated his government, accepting the argument that Kenyan politics required rewarding various elites with plum jobs. —

Michelle Gavin, Foreign Affairs, 23 July 2024 Policymakers are doing little to remedy the burden of housing costs, even for the most vulnerable, or to protect renters from landlords who—excuse my language—don’t give a crap about the people living under their roofs. —

Longreads, 12 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for excuse

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'excuse.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Cite this Entry

Style

“Excuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excuse. Accessed 8 Sep. 2024.

Copy Citation

Last Updated: 31 Aug 2024 - Updated example sentences

Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the Day

vilify

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Synonyms of excuse

noun

verb

Synonym Chooser

Examples of excuse in a Sentence

Thesaurus Entries Near excuse

Cite this Entry