excuse
verb
• seek to lessen the blame attaching to (a fault or offence); try to justify.
• "he did nothing to hide or excuse Jacob's cruelty"
Similar:
justify,
defend,
make excuses for,
make a case for,
explain (away),
rationalize,
condone,
vindicate,
warrant,
mitigate,
palliate,
apologize for,
forgive,
overlook,
disregard,
ignore,
pass over,
turn a blind eye to,
turn a deaf ear to,
wink at,
blink at,
indulge,
tolerate,
sanction,
extenuate,
• release (someone) from a duty or requirement.
• "it will not be possible to excuse you from attendance"
Opposite:
hold to,
excuse
noun
• a reason or explanation given to justify a fault or offence.
• "there can be no excuse for any further delay"
Similar:
justification,
defence,
reason,
explanation,
mitigating circumstances,
mitigation,
extenuation,
palliation,
vindication,
grounds,
cause,
basis,
call,
argument,
apology,
apologia,
plea,
• a poor or inadequate example of.
• "that pathetic excuse for a man!"
Similar:
travesty of,
apology for,
poor specimen of,
pitiful example of,
mockery of,
pale shadow of,
poor imitation of,
Origin:
Middle English: from Old French escuser (verb), from Latin excusare ‘to free from blame’, from ex- ‘out’ + causa ‘accusation, cause’.
excuse me
• used as a polite apology in various contexts, such as when attempting to get someone's attention, asking someone to move so that one may pass, or interrupting a speaker.
