Thesaurus results for EXPLAIN AWAY

explain away

verb

Definition of explain away

as in to explain

to give the reason for or cause of after the surprise attack, military leaders struggled to explain away the nation's unpreparedness

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in to excuse

to make (something) seem less bad by offering excuses tried to explain away his adulterous affairs by saying that men are promiscuous by nature

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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 explain away Those anemic numbers help explain the President’s mania for changing the subject to election fraud—laying the groundwork to explain away any losses in November, or, worse, something closer to what Himes warned about. — Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 17 July 2026 There are other options, but regardless of what’s on the table for the future, burnout deserves to be taken seriously rather than explained away out of pride, guilt, or habit. — Scott Hanson, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 These subtle shifts are easy to explain away and even easier to ignore. — Tatiana Dias, Vogue, 30 June 2026 Certainly, there are swing issues that can’t be explained away by a good week at Triple-A. — John Shipley, Twin Cities, 29 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for explain away

Recent Examples of Synonyms for explain away

Verb

One of the questions, directed to David Hunt, director of finance for Entergy Arkansas, asks him to explain the reasoning for the classification of the payments.

— Sydney Sasser, Arkansas Online, 1 Sep. 2026
Bernadette explains the racial nuances the Guardians might not know as newcomers to Earth, echoing the landmark 1971 Green Lantern/Green Arrow comic series, which attempts to bring the space cops down to Earth by exposing them to racial strife.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of explain

Verb

State lawmakers passed legislation this summer to require school principals to excuse student absences related to private, off-campus religious instruction programs.

— Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 24 Aug. 2026
The abuse of women and girls has long been ignored, excused, protected and even turned into profit.

— Jodi Bondi Norgaard, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of excuse

Verb

The government may not decide that Church teaching is insufficiently religious, insufficiently consistent with Catholic doctrine, or insufficiently compelling to justify an ecclesiastical policy.

— Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 26 Aug. 2026
Organizers of Tuesday's rally said the women were released from ICE detention after a judge granted their habeas corpus petitions, meaning the government was required to justify their continued detention.

— Drew Aunkst, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of justify

Browse Nearby Words

explainable

explain away

explained

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“Explain away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explain%20away. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of explain away

verb

Example Sentences

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