EXCUSING Synonyms: 58 Similar and Opposite Words

excusing

verb

present participle of excuse

as in ignoring

to dismiss as of little importance more often than not, voters are willing to excuse a candidate's youthful indiscretion

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in justifying

to be an acceptable reason for having a female passenger in labor will generally excuse a little disregard for the speed limit

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in explaining

to make (something) seem less bad by offering excuses he's always excusing his chronic lying by claiming that everybody lies

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of excusing Not that Miss Manners is excusing those who burst into dinner parties after the roast has been ruined — along with the other guests’ attitudes, most likely — and then blame it on traffic. — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 28 July 2026 Part of that is the team’s fault, as Boone and Cashman have spent much of his career staunchly defending and excusing the former first-round pick’s poor play. — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 8 July 2026 The royal mom also asked to see a poem that Ejran wrote, before excusing herself to continue her tour. — Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 6 July 2026 The center also alleges that the APA has put up roadblocks to allowing an official Jewish affinity group to form, while excusing inflammatory language about Zionism from an Arab, Muslim, Middle Eastern and North African affinity group. — Andrew Lapin, Sun Sentinel, 22 June 2026 Mixing those up can lead to either punishing good judgment or excusing bad results. — Flavio Maluf, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026 While not excusing his crime, Rogers contends Spencer has changed while on Death Row. — Cbs Miami Team, CBS News, 18 June 2026 Without excusing her actions, Harron’s film explores Solanis’ place as a misfit even within the outsider world of the 1960s NYC underground art scene. — Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026 No one is excusing Austin Metcalf’s murder. — Jack Crosbie, Rolling Stone, 12 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for excusing

Verb

There is a danger in drawing comparisons between current events and the Nazi Holocaust, but there is a greater danger in ignoring the similarities.

— David Pollak, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026
When a motorist receives a moving violation, there are consequences for ignoring the summons.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of ignoring

Verb

Former grand mufti Ahmad Badreddine Hassoun, an Assad loyalist who was vocally in support of the government's policies, was convicted of inciting violence and justifying murder.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
The second, less visible but arguably more consequential, is that the capability gap justifying dependence on closed frontier labs has nearly disappeared.

— Pawel Rzeszucinski, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of justifying

Verb

Before explaining what the technology can do, understand what the customer is trying to accomplish.

— William Arruda, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
In the Situational Awareness fund move, Griffin sent investors a letter explaining Citadel’s stock actions with the AI company.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of explaining

Verb

Other extenuating circumstances beyond Goodman’s control also might be contributing to his reputation within the industry as a subpar defender.

— Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 27 July 2026
But, generally, only one property can be claimed, unless there are extenuating circumstances.

— Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 30 June 2026

Definition of extenuating

Verb

Organizations frequently prioritize a perfect match over assessing true capability, overlooking internal talent for development.

— Sheila Callaham, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Japan never threatened after that, struggling as Martina mixed in fastballs and curveballs to oohs and ahs from the nearly 22,000 fans who packed the bleachers and steep hill overlooking the outfield.

— ABC News, ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of overlooking

Browse Nearby Words

excuses

excusing

exec

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“Excusing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excusing. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of excusing

verb

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