Defense
Defense noun - An explanation that frees one from fault or blame.
Usage example: there's absolutely no defense for your actions
Excuse is a synonym for defense in reason topic. In some cases you can use "Excuse" instead a noun "Defense", when it comes to topics like explanation.
Excuse
Excuse noun - An explanation that frees one from fault or blame.
Usage example: “a really important business call” is no excuse for not paying proper attention to one's driving
Mutual synonyms
Related pairs
Both words in one sentence
- Apparently this in of itself wouldn't be too much of a problem with the higher-ups, but she tends to use self-defense as an excuse to murder suspects.
Source: Cowboy Cop / Web Comics -
In their defense, firing on a ship as excuse to talk the owner of the ship into an alliance had already worked with the Narn.
Source: Fan Fic / The Dilgar War -
In Fulgrim, Serena D'Angelus makes this excuse to Lucius, lying that she murdered a remembrancer in self-defense because he was about to rape her.
Source: Literature / Horus Heresy
Cite this Source
Excuse and Defense. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/defense/excuse
Defense & Excuse. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/defense/excuse>.
Excuse or Defense. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/defense/excuse.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "defense" and "excuse" have occurred on timeline