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
Pretext is a synonym for excuse in reason topic. In some cases you can use "Pretext" instead the word "Excuse" as a noun or a verb, when it comes to topics like justification, forgive, explain, defence. popular alternative
Pretext
Pretext noun - Something serving to conceal plans; a fictitious reason that is concocted in order to conceal the real reason.
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Synonyms for Pretext
Excuse is a synonym for pretext in reason topic. You can use "Excuse" instead the word "Pretext" as a noun or a verb, if it concerns topics such as guise, disguise, justification, explain. popular alternative
Nearby Word: pretexting
Mutual synonyms
How words are described
Both words in one sentence
- Conger reported Corbett's actions to be "without order, pretext or excuse".
Source: Hanlon's Razor -
However, he decides to go so overboard with this that he just comes across as a whiny brat who uses the excuse as a shallow pretext for his own murderous urges instead.
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Pretext for War: Of the "these guys are evil, so we need an excuse to attack them" variety.
Source: Anime / Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V
Cite this Source
Pretext and Excuse. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/excuse/pretext
Excuse & Pretext. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/excuse/pretext>.
Pretext or Excuse. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/excuse/pretext.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "excuse" and "pretext" have occurred on timeline