explain away

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of EXPLAIN AWAY

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

Synonyms account (for), attribute, explain away, rationalize

Related Words condone, excuse, forgive, justify; absolve, acquit, exculpate, exonerate, vindicate

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

Synonyms deodorize, excuse, explain away, extenuate, gloss (over), gloze (over), whitewash

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