Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
excuse (verb)transitive verb
1.
a) to make apology for
b) to try to remove blame from
2.
to forgive entirely or disregard as of trivial import regard as excusable - graciously excused his tardiness
3.
a) to grant exemption or release to - was excused from jury duty
b) to allow to leave - excused the class
4.
to serve as excuse for - justify nothing can excuse such neglect
1.
the act of - excusing
2.
a) something offered as justification or as grounds for being - excused
b) an expression of regret for failure to do something
c) a note of explanation of an absence
3.
- justification reason apology
Merriam-Webster Online Thesaurus
excuse (noun)an explanation that frees one from fault or blame
SYNONIMS:
alibi, apology, defense, justification, plea, reasonRELATED WORDS:
color, guise, pretense ( pretence), pretext, rationale, rationalization, vindication, whitewash; cop-out, out; acknowledgment ( acknowledgement), atonement, confession; extenuation, palliation1.
to dismiss as of little importance
SYNONIMS:
blink (at), brush (aside off), condone, discount, disregard, forgive, gloss (over), gloze (over), ignore, overlook, overpass, paper over, pardon, pass over, remit, shrug off, whitewash, wink (at)RELATED WORDS:
explain, justify, rationalize; absolve, acquit, clear, exculpate, exonerate, vindicate; waive, wave (aside off)NEAR ANTONYMS:
heed, mark, mind, note, object (to)2.
to be an acceptable reason for
SYNONIMS:
excuseRELATED WORDS:
account (for), alibi, explain, explain away, rationalize; brush (aside off), condone, disregard, forgive, gloss (over), gloze (over), ignore, pardon, pass over, remit, shrug off, wink (at)3.
to make (something) seem less bad by offering excuses
SYNONIMS:
deodorize, excuse, explain away, extenuate, gloss (over), gloze (over), whitewashRELATED WORDS:
sugarcoat, varnish; apologize, atone, confess; account (for), explain, justify, rationalize; minimize, play down, soft-pedal; alleviate, ease, lessen, lighten, mitigate, moderate, soften, temper; absolve, acquit, clear, exculpate, exonerate, vindicate