excused

verb

past tense of excuse
1
as in ignored
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
2
as in justified
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
3
as in explained
to make (something) seem less bad by offering excuses he's always excusing his chronic lying by claiming that everybody lies

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 excused The jury requested to be excused for the day hours after telling Judge William Sullivan that it was deadlocked and could not reach a unanimous decision. — Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 1 Sep. 2026 As Korean growth picks up, President Lee Jae Myung could be excused for thinking his job as an economic reformer is done. — William Pesek, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2026 Observant Muslims pray five times daily, so students and employees sometimes need a space to pray – an accommodation that can be as simple as being excused briefly from class or work. — Asma Uddin, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026 So the Eagles can be excused for not getting very excited about winning a second straight division title. — ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026 Students can be excused for one to four hours per week to attend religious instruction. — 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 Absences for Jacksonville Elementary students will continue to be excused. — Arkansas Online, 21 Aug. 2026 The chaplain was the only witness to take the stand and jurors were excused by the late morning. — Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 20 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for excused
  1. ignored
  2. justified
  3. explained
  4. overlooked
  5. pardoned
Verb
  • Neighbors said their complaints about the empty lot were ignored for years until a fire burned part of the property and neighbor Kayt Miranda's garage early on Wednesday morning.
    — Joy Benedict, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The stock that spent two years being ignored by the same investors who loaded up on Hilton and Marriott is now having its moment.
    — Josh Brown,Sean Russo, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of ignored
Verb
  • Dedicated reconstruction funds are common in postconflict states, and a sovereign wealth fund may be justified to streamline the management of fragmented, distressed, and historically poorly managed public assets.
    — Jesse Marks, Foreign Affairs, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Chami noted that the price for working with content creators varies from $250-$1,000 per post, and justified rates that are on the higher end of the spectrum.
    — Lyndsay C. Green, Freep.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of justified
Verb
  • Judge William Sullivan, who is presiding over the Clancy trial, explained the prosecution's burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt after receiving a new note from the jury Thursday afternoon.
    — Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026
  • After receiving assessment results, a teacher customizes a curriculum built for a student’s needs, Tanner explained.
    — Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of explained
Verb
  • What often gets overlooked, the run Herman did knock in turned out to be the winning run in the game.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • No detail is overlooked—from antiques and scents to cheeky notes tucked in unexpected corners, the experience is intimate, playful, and deeply personal.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of overlooked
Verb
  • Rodney Taylor, a double amputee and Atlanta father of seven, was detained in Stewart Detention Center for 15 months in connection with a decades-old burglary charge that was later pardoned, advocates said.
    — Dan Raby, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Several months later, in December 2024, Joe pardoned his son before leaving the White House.
    — Paloma Chavez, PEOPLE, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of pardoned

Browse Nearby Words

excuse
excused
excuses
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Cite this Entry

“Excused.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excused. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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