EN

Synonyms for excuse

  • noun
  • verb

Most common

pretext exempt clear overlook justification alibi apology

Synonyms by meaning

Noun

1. Pretext — an explanation designed to avoid or alleviate guilt or negative judgment; a plea offered in extenuation of a…

pretext, exempt, pretense US, pretence UK, clear, overlook, subterfuge, semblance, plea, guise, color US, colour UK, discharge, cop-out slang

2. Justification

justification, alibi, self-justification, exculpation

3. Apology

apology, defense US, defence UK, vindication, absolution, palliation, exoneration, varnish, remission, extenuation rare

Other

reason, sick note UK, off-come, make-shift, sophistry, evasion, loop hole, condonation rare

Verb

1. Pardon — to allow to leave, or release from any obligation

pardon, forgive, justify, absolve, exonerate, vindicate, acquit, defend, remit, exculpate, unguilt rare

2. Plead — to provide an excuse for; to justify

plead, adduce

3. Relieve

let off, relieve

4. Apologize

apologize UK US, apologise UK, rationalize UK US, rationalise UK

Other

condone, explain, free, beg off, mitigate, dispense with, release, palliate, extenuate dated

Antonyms

blame, punish, accuse

All antonyms of excuse →

Definitions

  1. n. 1

    An explanation designed to avoid or alleviate guilt or negative judgment; a plea offered in extenuation of a fault.

    I had to make an excuse for being late to the meeting.

  2. n. 2

    A defense to a criminal or civil charge wherein the accused party admits to doing acts for which legal consequences would normally be appropriate, but asserts that special circumstances relieve that party of culpability for having done those acts.

  3. v. 1

    To allow to leave, or release from any obligation.

    May I be excused from the table?

  4. v. 2

    To provide an excuse for; to justify.

    You know he shouldn't have done it, so don't try to excuse his behavior!

Related words

Phrases
excuse me

Forms

Plural
excuses → pretexts, exempts, pretenses, clears…
Past participle
excused
e.g. excused → pardoned, forgiv'n, justified, absolved…

Choose the right word

Excuse, Confession, Acknowledgment or Apology?

An excuse for a fault is an attempt at partial justification; as, one alleges haste as an excuse for carelessness. Confession is a full acknowledgment of wrong, generally of a grave wrong, with or without apology or excuse.

J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)

Example sentences

  • overlook You may as well overlook his sins and forgive him.
  • pretext You're just looking for a pretext to get rid of me.
  • pretense He made a pretense of knowing my father.
  • subterfuge I apologize for the subterfuge.
  • apology Yanni's apology devolved into a physical argument.
  • reason Who that has reason will listen to such a mad man?

Popularity over time

Word1850 → 2019Trend
excuserising
overlooksteady
pretextsteady
pretenserising
subterfugesteady
apologyrising

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

4 letters
free1, plea1
5 letters
clear1, color2, plead1, guise1, alibi3, remit2
6 letters
reason2, colour2, defend2, exempt2, pardon2, acquit2, adduce
7 letters
release2, defense2, explain2, defence2, forgive2, justify3, apology4, relieve2, evasion3, pretext2, condone2, varnish2, absolve2, unguilt
8 letters
overlook3, mitigate3, pretense2, pretence, palliate
9 letters
apologize4, discharge2, apologise4, remission3, semblance2, exonerate4, vindicate3, sophistry3, exculpate3, extenuate4
10 letters
absolution4, subterfuge3, palliation
11 letters
vindication4, rationalize4, exoneration5, rationalise, exculpation, condonation, extenuation
13 letters
justification5

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (color2 = 2 syllables).

In other languages

Français
excuse
Italiano
scusa
Español
excusa
Deutsch
Entschuldigung
Català
excusa