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
Varnish and explain away are semantically related. In some cases you can use "Varnish" instead a verb "Explain away".
Varnish
Varnish verb - Cover with varnish.
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Synonyms for Varnish
Explain away and varnish are semantically related. Sometimes you can use "Explain away" instead a verb "Varnish".
Nearby Words: varnished, varnishing
Mutual synonyms
Related pairs
- sugarcoat and explain away
- sugarcoat and varnish
- ease and explain away
- ease and varnish
- soften and explain away
- soften and varnish
- excuse and explain away
- excuse and varnish
- misrepresent and explain away
- misrepresent and varnish
- gloss and explain away
- gloss and varnish
- lessen and explain away
- lessen and varnish
Cite this Source
Varnish and Explain away. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 13, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/explain_away/varnish
Explain away & Varnish. N.p., 2016. Web. 13 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/explain_away/varnish>.
Varnish or Explain away. 2016. Accessed August 13, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/explain_away/varnish.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "explain away" and "varnish" have occurred on timeline