explained away
Made excuses for
To explain away is to dismiss or minimize something troubling by offering an explanation that makes it seem less significant or problematic.
The phrase often implies the explanation is inadequate or self-serving: He explained away the missing funds as an accounting error.
Something explained away hasn't been truly addressed—just rationalized or brushed aside.
- rationalizeExplain with invented reasons
- justifyProvide adequate grounds for
- make excusesGive self-serving explanations
- dismissSend away or reject
- brush offDismissive rejection of someone
excuse · downplay · shrug off · trivialize · redefine · self-deception · recontextualize · understate · reinterpret · talk around · belittle · negate · distort · defend · legitimize · denial · projection · ignore
explained awayconfronted
Challenged or opposed directly
reckoned with · taken seriously · dealt with · faced up to · come to terms with
explained awayacknowledged
Accepted as true
admitted · accepted · owned up to · conceded · validated
explained awayscrutinized
Examined in close detail
interrogated · probed · unpacked · explored · worked through
explain, away, explains, explaining, explanation, explanations, explanatory, explicable, inexplicable