self-justifier
Defender of themselves
A self-justifier is someone who habitually defends or rationalizes their own actions, especially when those actions are questionable.
The term usually carries a negative connotation—suggesting someone more interested in excusing themselves than in honest self-examination: He's such a self-justifier that he can't admit even minor mistakes.
Clearance of blame
- apologiaFormal defense of views
- pleaFormal request or defense
- exculpationClearing from fault
- extenuationPartial justification for fault
mitigation · explanation · argumentation · advocacy · legitimization · substantiation · protestation · rebuttal
Inventing acceptable motives afterward
- denialRefusal to accept reality
- projectionSomething that extends outward
- compartmentalizationDivision into distinct sections
- overconfidenceUnjustified certainty in oneself
Inventing acceptable motives afterward
- pretextFabricated motive concealing truth
- alibiDefense of location
- cop-outEvasion of responsibility
- dodgeAvoid by quick movement
evasion · whitewash · deflection · spin · obfuscation · blame-shifting · scapegoating · finger-pointing
Guilt for wrongdoing
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- denialRefusal to accept reality
- repressionUnconscious blocking of thoughts
- suppressionForcible prevention or concealment
contrition · culpability · conscience · regret · absolution · atonement · confession · penance
Showing no remorse
- defensiveProtective or easily threatened
- stubbornRefusing to change course
- narcissisticObsessed with one's image
- arrogantExcessively high self-regard
obstinate · unrepentant · impenitent · smug · delusional · egotistical · thin-skinned · entitled
vindication
Clearance of blame
- apologiaFormal defense of views
- pleaFormal request or defense
- exculpationClearing from fault
extenuation · mitigation · explanation · argumentation · advocacy · legitimization · substantiation · protestation · rebuttal · counterargument
rationalization
Inventing acceptable motives afterward
- denialRefusal to accept reality
- projectionSomething that extends outward
- compartmentalizationDivision into distinct sections
rationalization
Inventing acceptable motives afterward
dodge · evasion · whitewash · deflection · spin · obfuscation · blame-shifting · scapegoating · finger-pointing · sidestep
remorse
Guilt for wrongdoing
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- denialRefusal to accept reality
- repressionUnconscious blocking of thoughts
suppression · contrition · culpability · conscience · regret · absolution · atonement · confession · penance · accountability
unapologetic
Showing no remorse
- defensiveProtective or easily threatened
- stubbornRefusing to change course
- narcissisticObsessed with one's image
arrogant · obstinate · unrepentant · impenitent · smug · delusional · egotistical · thin-skinned · entitled · sanctimonious
self, justify, just, justice, justly, unjust, justification, justified, unjustified