noun
adj
verb
adv

Textual thesaurus for "excuse"

(noun) apology

a poor example

it was an apology for a meal; a poor excuse for an automobile


(noun) alibi, self-justification, exculpation

a defense of some offensive behavior or some failure to keep a promise etc.

he kept finding excuses to stay; every day he had a new alibi for not getting a job; his transparent self-justification was unacceptable


(verb) condone

excuse, overlook, or make allowances for; be lenient with

excuse someone's behavior; She condoned her husband's occasional infidelities


(verb) explain

serve as a reason or cause or justification of

Your need to sleep late does not excuse your late arrival at work; Her recent divorce may explain her reluctance to date again


(verb) exempt, relieve, let off

grant exemption or release to

Please excuse me from this class


(verb) beg off

ask for permission to be released from an engagement


(verb) rationalise, rationalize, justify, apologise, apologize

defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning

rationalize the child's seemingly crazy behavior; he rationalized his lack of success


(verb) pardon

accept an excuse for

Please excuse my dirty hands