EXCUSES Synonyms: 79 Similar and Opposite Words

excuses 1 of 2

noun

plural of excuse

as in justifications

an explanation that frees one from fault or blame "a really important business call" is no excuse for not paying proper attention to one's driving

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excuses

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of excuse

as in ignores

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in justifies

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

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as in explains

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 excuses

Noun

The town council will give so many excuses as to why they were approved. — Stephen Korka, Sun Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2026 The rules, which are never explained, are put there as flimsy excuses for aspects of the pilot that don’t hold together otherwise. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026 Only to see them, after winning elections, get strong-armed by the party, then offer lame excuses as to why. — Colleen Kujawa, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2026 Now, none of this excuses what Cathy does to poor, sweet, trusting Faye, whom Martha Plimpton plays with a chummy maternal quality that makes her grotesque demise that much more upsetting. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026 But the status quo clearly isn't working, and with the resources poured into the program ahead of 2026, Riley has few excuses left. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2026 Do not add any excuses, which are not necessary, or an admission of hurt feelings. — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 25 Sep. 2026 Catch and eliminate personal excuses, justifications, or peer comparisons. — Brendan Keegan, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026 But voters should not reward candidates who hide behind weak excuses when avoiding debates and other unscripted events. — Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Sep. 2026

Verb

Created in 2007, PSLF excuses the federal student debt of government and nonprofit workers after 120 qualifying monthly payments. — Jessica Dickler,annie Nova, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2026 Following another sharp exchange between the siblings, Ellen excuses herself from dinner. — Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026 None of that excuses his behavior, but a change of brain function, rather than a change of heart, is something his constituents need to consider. — Michael P.h. Stanley, STAT, 10 Sep. 2026 Any person who celebrates, encourages, or excuses actions like these is fundamentally wrong. — Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026 For me, the larger question is not whether artistic behavior excuses transgression, but how to hold artistic achievement and ethical accountability together without allowing one to erase the other. — Andy Battaglia, ARTnews.com, 3 Aug. 2026 Instead, some attack our business's fees, as though changing the subject somehow excuses copying another company's intellectual property. — Brian Taylor, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026 Because her beauty excuses all. — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 1 June 2026 The Justice Department says Bondi’s ouster excuses her from having to appear. — NBC news, 12 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for excuses

Noun

Tina was granted a divorce on grounds of cruelty, one of the few legal justifications for divorce in 1903.

— Andrew Coletti, Popular Science, 14 Oct. 2026
Well, it’s generally focused on the origins of and justifications for Baldwin’s multi-decade persecution complex.

— Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of justifications

Verb

Any strategy that ignores that skepticism is unlikely to survive the next election or to be funded by the Congress that is likely to emerge from it.

— Philip H. Gordon, Foreign Affairs, 12 Oct. 2026
But the unbridled embrace of aquaculture as a sustainable answer to feeding the planet ignores some very real costs.

— Ian Urbina, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of ignores

Noun

Among their reasons for concern is Ohio’s poor track record when women are on the ballot.

— Philip Elliott, Time, 19 Oct. 2026
These tools are primarily used by those who make less than $50,000 according to a 2022 Government Accountability Office report, with food and rent being the key reasons people use the service, one case study of food and restaurant workers found.

— Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of reasons

Verb

After losing his reelection bid to Bill Clinton in 1992, Bush issued Christmas Eve pardons to six Reagan administration officials convicted of or facing trials for crimes related to Iran-Contra.

— Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Aug. 2026
Trump pardons ex-Republican congressman.

— Jay Stahl, USA Today, 7 June 2026

Definition of pardons

Verb

The sunny front porch, which overlooks a community fountain and gazebo on a stretch of land that replicates a New England town green, only adds to its appeal.

— James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026
Spanning more than 7,000 square feet across two floors, the Sanctuary store overlooks Victoria Dockside and is close to Rosewood Hotel, with which the activewear brand has an ongoing partnership.

— Denni Hu, Footwear News, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of overlooks

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excused

excuses

excusing

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Style

“Excuses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excuses. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of excuses

noun

verb

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