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
Palliate and explain away are semantically related In some cases you can use "Palliate" instead a verb "Explain away".
Palliate
Palliate verb - To make (something) seem less bad by offering excuses.
Usage example: don't try to palliate your constant lying by claiming that everybody lies
Explain away and palliate are semantically related in show topic. Sometimes you can use "Explain away" instead a verb "Palliate".
Mutual synonyms
Related pairs
- temper and explain away
- temper and palliate
- sugarcoat and explain away
- sugarcoat and palliate
- ease and explain away
- ease and palliate
- soften and explain away
- soften and palliate
- condone and explain away
- condone and palliate
- excuse and explain away
- excuse and palliate
- moderate and explain away
- moderate and palliate
Cite this Source
Palliate and Explain away. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 13, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/explain_away/palliate
Explain away & Palliate. N.p., 2016. Web. 13 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/explain_away/palliate>.
Palliate or Explain away. 2016. Accessed August 13, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/explain_away/palliate.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "explain away" and "palliate" have occurred on timeline