justifies
Shows good reason
Justifies is the third-person singular of justify—to show or prove something to be right, reasonable, or warranted.
A decision is justified when sufficient grounds support it: The evidence justifies further investigation.
When someone justifies their actions, they offer reasons or explanations in defense: She justifies the expense by pointing to long-term savings.
The end justifies the means suggests that outcomes can validate questionable methods.
Stated basis for action
- groundsBasis for justification
- basisUnderlying support or principle
- explanationStatement making something clear
- logicScience of valid reasoning
evidence · premise · cause · motivation · warrant · reasoning · deduction · inference
Formal clearing of charges
- exonerationOfficial clearing of blame
- exculpationClearing from fault
- vindicationClearance of blame
- absolutionFormal clearing of guilt
defense · plea · advocacy · legitimacy · lawfulness · constitutionality · compliance · jurisdiction
Moral correctness or virtue
- ethicsStudy of right conduct
- conscienceInternal moral sense
- integrityMoral soundness and consistency
- virtueMoral goodness or merit
fairness · equity · duty · honor · principles · rectitude · uprightness · decency
Explanations offered for faults
- explains awayDismisses with justification
- whitewashesConceals wrongdoing with spin
- glosses overMinimizes or obscures flaws
- self-deceptionConvincing yourself of falsehoods
intellectualizes · normalizes · defends · alibis · pretexts · extenuates · palliates · mitigates
rationale
Stated basis for action
- groundsBasis for justification
- basisUnderlying support or principle
- explanationStatement making something clear
logic · evidence · premise · cause · motivation · warrant · reasoning · deduction · inference · proof
acquittal
Formal clearing of charges
- exonerationOfficial clearing of blame
- exculpationClearing from fault
- vindicationClearance of blame
absolution · defense · plea · advocacy · legitimacy · lawfulness · constitutionality · compliance · jurisdiction · mandate
righteousness
Moral correctness or virtue
- ethicsStudy of right conduct
- conscienceInternal moral sense
- integrityMoral soundness and consistency
virtue · fairness · equity · duty · honor · principles · rectitude · uprightness · decency · responsibility
excuses
Explanations offered for faults
- explains awayDismisses with justification
- whitewashesConceals wrongdoing with spin
- glosses overMinimizes or obscures flaws
self-deception · intellectualizes · normalizes · defends · alibis · pretexts · extenuates · palliates · mitigates · apologetics
alignment
Correct relative positioning
kerning · indent · layout · column · ragged · formatting · word wrap · paragraph · line length · gutter
justifiescondemns
Expresses severe disapproval
denounces · censures · damns · convicts · reproaches
justifiesrefutes
Proves something false
disproves · undermines · invalidates · contradicts · negates
justifiesincriminates
Shows evidence of guilt
blames · implicates · accuses · indicts · convicts
- the end justifies the meansMorality judged by outcomes
- moral justificationRationale for ethical permissibility
- justifiable homicideLegally sanctioned taking of life
- legal justificationGrounds making something lawful
- justified textTypeset with even margins
- justified killingLegally defensible lethal act
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