Explain away
Explain away verb - To give the reason for or cause of.
Usage example: after the surprise attack, military leaders struggled to explain away the nation's unpreparedness
Show all Definitions
Synonyms for Explain away
Excuse and explain away are semantically related in justify topic. In some cases you can use "Excuse" instead a verb "Explain away".
Excuse
Excuse verb - To be an acceptable reason for.
Usage example: having a female passenger in labor will generally excuse a little disregard for the speed limit
Explain away and excuse are semantically related in justify topic. You can use "Explain away" instead a verb "Excuse".
Mutual synonyms
Related pairs
- reason and explain away
- reason and excuse
- condone and explain away
- condone and excuse
- absolve and explain away
- absolve and excuse
- acquit and explain away
- acquit and excuse
- exculpate and explain away
- exculpate and excuse
- palliate and explain away
- palliate and excuse
- defend and explain away
- defend and excuse
Cite this Source
Excuse and Explain away. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 13, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/explain_away/excuse
Explain away & Excuse. N.p., 2016. Web. 13 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/explain_away/excuse>.
Excuse or Explain away. 2016. Accessed August 13, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/explain_away/excuse.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "explain away" and "excuse" have occurred on timeline