Explain away
Explain away verb - To make (something) seem less bad by offering excuses.
Usage example: tried to explain away his adulterous affairs by saying that men are promiscuous by nature
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Synonyms for Explain away
Mitigate and explain away are semantically related. In some cases you can use "Mitigate" instead a verb "Explain away".
Mitigate
Mitigate verb - To make more bearable or less severe.
Explain away and mitigate are semantically related. Sometimes you can use "Explain away" instead a verb "Mitigate".
Mutual synonyms
Related pairs
- temper and explain away
- temper and mitigate
- ease and explain away
- ease and mitigate
- soften and explain away
- soften and mitigate
- excuse and explain away
- excuse and mitigate
- exculpate and explain away
- exculpate and mitigate
- moderate and explain away
- moderate and mitigate
- lessen and explain away
- lessen and mitigate
Cite this Source
Mitigate and Explain away. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 13, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/explain_away/mitigate
Explain away & Mitigate. N.p., 2016. Web. 13 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/explain_away/mitigate>.
Mitigate or Explain away. 2016. Accessed August 13, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/explain_away/mitigate.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "explain away" and "mitigate" have occurred on timeline