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
Rationalize is a synonym for explain away in justify topic. In some cases you can use "Rationalize" instead a verb "Explain away", when it comes to topics like make excuses.
Rationalize
Rationalize verb - To give the reason for or cause of.
Usage example: rationalized his decision to buy the new car by noting that it was more fuel efficient than his old vehicle
Show all Definitions
Synonyms for Rationalize
Explain away is a synonym for rationalize in justify topic. You can use "Explain away" instead a verb "Rationalize", if it concerns topics such as make excuses. popular alternative
Mutual synonyms
Related pairs
- think and explain away
- think and rationalize
- reason and explain away
- reason and rationalize
- excuse and explain away
- excuse and rationalize
- palliate and explain away
- palliate and rationalize
- deliberate and explain away
- deliberate and rationalize
- resolve and explain away
- resolve and rationalize
- reconcile and explain away
- reconcile and rationalize
Cite this Source
Rationalize and Explain away. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 16, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/explain_away/rationalize
Explain away & Rationalize. N.p., 2016. Web. 16 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/explain_away/rationalize>.
Rationalize or Explain away. 2016. Accessed August 16, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/explain_away/rationalize.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "explain away" and "rationalize" have occurred on timeline