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   ex·cuse

   verb

   • 1. attempt to lessen the blame attaching to (a fault or offense); seek to defend or justify: "he did nothing to hide or excuse Jacob's cruelty" Similar justifydefendmake excuses formake a case forexplain (away)rationalizecondonevindicatewarrantmitigatepalliateapologize forforgiveoverlookdisregardignorepass overturn a blind eye toturn a deaf ear towink atblink atindulgetoleratesanctionrare:extenuateOpposite condemn
   • ▪ forgive (someone) for a fault or offense: "you must excuse my sister" Similar forgivepardonabsolveexonerateacquitmake allowances forinformal:let someone off (the hook)rare:exculpateOpposite punishblame
   • ▪ overlook or forgive (a fault or offense): "sit down—excuse the mess"
   • ▪ (of a fact or circumstance) serve in mitigation of (a person or act): "his ability excuses most of his faults"
   • 2. release (someone) from a duty or requirement: "it will not be possible to excuse you from jury duty" Similar let offreleaserelieveexemptspareabsolvefreeliberaterare:dispenseOpposite hold to
   • ▪ (used in polite formulas) allow (someone) to leave a room or gathering: "now, if you'll excuse us, we have to be getting along"
   • ▪ say politely that one is leaving: "I had to excuse myself and go out of the room"
   • ▪ (used especially by school pupils) be allowed to leave the room, especially to go to the bathroom: "please, can I be excused?"

   noun

   • 1. a reason or explanation put forward to defend or justify a fault or offense: "there can be no possible excuse for any further delay" Similar justificationdefensereasonexplanationmitigating circumstancesmitigationextenuationpalliationvindicationgroundscausebasiscallargumentapologyapologiaplea
   • ▪ a reason put forward to conceal the real reason for an action; a pretext: "when the rain started he used it as an excuse to leave early." Similar pretextostensible reasonpretensefrontcover-upfabricationevasioninformal:storyalibilinecop-outget-out
   • 2. a poor or inadequate example of: informal "that pathetic excuse for a man!" Similar travesty ofapology forpoor specimen ofpitiful example ofmockery ofpale shadow ofpoor imitation of

   Word Origin Middle English: from Old French escuser (verb), from Latin excusare ‘to free from blame’, from ex- ‘out’ + causa ‘accusation, cause’.

   Scrabble Points: 15

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