justifications
Reasons given afterward
Justifications are reasons or explanations offered to defend an action, belief, or decision.
The word often carries a hint of defensiveness—someone providing justifications may be trying to excuse questionable behavior: His justifications for missing the deadline convinced no one.
In typography, justification refers to text alignment, where lines are adjusted to create even margins.
Explanations offered for faults
- alibisClaimed absence from crime
- pretextsOstensible justifications masking truth
- rationalizationsPost-hoc mental defenses
- apologiaFormal defense of views
vindication · exoneration · mitigation · extenuation · whitewash · cop-out · evasion · denial
Stated basis for action
- argumentReasoned case or dispute
- explanationStatement making something clear
- groundsBasis for justification
- basisUnderlying support or principle
premise · logic · reasoning · evidence · proof · cause · motivation · foundation
Protection against harm
- acquittalFormal clearing of charges
- exculpationClearing from fault
- absolutionFormal clearing of guilt
- pleaFormal request or defense
Study of right conduct
- righteousnessMoral correctness or virtue
- conscienceInternal moral sense
- integrityMoral soundness and consistency
- fairnessJust and equal treatment
duty · obligation · virtue · principles · rectitude · propriety · legitimacy · rightness
Correct relative positioning
- marginsEdges of a page
- spacingInterval arrangement between objects
- flushSame suit, five cards
- raggedWorn to shreds
left-justified · right-justified · kerning · leading · typesetting
excuses
Explanations offered for faults
- alibisClaimed absence from crime
- pretextsOstensible justifications masking truth
- rationalizationsPost-hoc mental defenses
apologia · vindication · exoneration · mitigation · extenuation · whitewash · cop-out · evasion · denial · defensiveness
rationale
Stated basis for action
- argumentReasoned case or dispute
- explanationStatement making something clear
- groundsBasis for justification
basis · premise · logic · reasoning · evidence · proof · cause · motivation · foundation · underpinning
defense
Protection against harm
- acquittalFormal clearing of charges
- exculpationClearing from fault
- absolutionFormal clearing of guilt
plea · rebuttal · counterargument · precedent
ethics
Study of right conduct
- righteousnessMoral correctness or virtue
- conscienceInternal moral sense
- integrityMoral soundness and consistency
fairness · duty · obligation · virtue · principles · rectitude · propriety · legitimacy · rightness · moralization
alignment
Correct relative positioning
ragged · left-justified · right-justified · kerning · leading · typesetting
- excusesexcuse, not my fault, overslept, alibi, excuses
justificationscondemnations
Formal expressions of strong disapproval
accusations · denunciations · criticisms · indictments · convictions
justificationsadmissions
Acts of letting in
confessions · apologies · mea culpas · acknowledgments · concessions
- moral justificationRationale for ethical permissibility
- legal justificationGrounds making something lawful
- ethical justificationReasoned moral defense