excusing
Overlooking a fault
Excusing is the act of offering or accepting reasons that justify or forgive a fault, offense, or failure.
You might be excusing someone's behavior by attributing it to stress, or excusing yourself from a meeting.
I'm not excusing what he did, but I understand it.
The word often implies a judgment about whether the reasons given are adequate: Stop excusing his rudeness.
Statement acknowledging wrongdoing
- sorryExpressing regret or apology
- regretSorrow over past actions
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
- remorseGuilt for wrongdoing
pardon · forgive · mea culpa · repentance · atonement · guilt · shame · compunction
Basis or justification
- explanationStatement making something clear
- rationaleStated basis for action
- accountRecord of dealings
- clarificationMaking meaning plain
grounds · basis · context · circumstance · pretext · alibi · cover story · plea
Explain with invented reasons
- justifyProvide adequate grounds for
- defendProtect from harm
- legitimizeMake lawful or valid
- vindicateClear of wrongdoing
validate · warrant · mitigate · extenuate · substantiate · explain away · reason · account for
apology
Statement acknowledging wrongdoing
- sorryExpressing regret or apology
- regretSorrow over past actions
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
remorse · pardon · forgive · mea culpa · repentance · atonement · guilt · shame · compunction · self-reproach
reason
Basis or justification
- explanationStatement making something clear
- rationaleStated basis for action
- accountRecord of dealings
clarification · grounds · basis · context · circumstance · pretext · alibi · cover story · plea · defense
rationalize
Explain with invented reasons
- justifyProvide adequate grounds for
- defendProtect from harm
- legitimizeMake lawful or valid
vindicate · validate · warrant · mitigate · extenuate · substantiate · explain away · reason · account for · support
forgive
Cease to blame
clemency · mercy · leniency · amnesty · reprieve · commutation · grace · indulgence · remission · let off
release
To let go
- forgivenessforgiveness of sins, redemption, absolve, mercy, grace
- mercyclemency, compassion, forgiveness, leniency, lenience
- tolerance skillsaccepting, forgiving, patience, empathy, understanding
- complianceaudit, obeying, policy, compliance officer, regulation
- soft parentingpermissive, lenient, doting, pampering, coddling
excusingcondemning
Expressing severe disapproval
blaming · punishing · accusing · castigating · censuring
excusingrequiring
Making mandatory or needed
compelling · obligating · mandating · summoning · detaining
excusingexposing
Making something known
condemning · criticizing · calling out · unmasking · revealing
excuse, excused, excusable, excuses, inexcusable, unexcused, excuser, excusers, inexcusably