Explain and Justify

Explain

Explain verb - To give the reason for or cause of.
Usage example: can you explain your very odd behavior at the wedding reception?

Justify is a synonym for explain in account for topic. In some cases you can use "Justify" instead a verb "Explain", when it comes to topics like account, make clear. popular alternative

Justify

Justify verb - To be an acceptable reason for.
Usage example: you seem to think that losing a basketball game justifies a temper tantrum

Explain is a synonym for justify in account topic. You can use "Explain" instead a verb "Justify", if it concerns topics such as account for, legitimize, give grounds for. popular alternative

Common collocations

ability explain ability justify ability
change explain change justify change
lack explain lack justify lack
nature explain nature justify nature
Other words: presence, appearance, fact, use, way, actions, absence, existence, behavior.

Both words in one sentence

  • Franchise / Transformers Film Series Aliens Speaking English: One of the only instances in the entire 20+ year history of the franchise that attempts to justify or explain how Cybertronians can speak English.
  • Literature / The Saga of the Volsungs aka: Volsunga Saga At no point is the ring strictly necessary to explain or justify the turns of the story.
  • Film / 300 Trying to justify or explain it is as futile as explaining why Matrix should face a court-martial for property damage.
    Source: Film / 300
Cite this Source
Justify and Explain. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 14, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/explain/justify
Explain & Justify. N.p., 2016. Web. 14 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/explain/justify>.
Justify or Explain. 2016. Accessed August 14, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/explain/justify.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "explain" and "justify" have occurred on timeline