· a defense of some offensive behavior or some failure to keep a promise etc.; "he kept finding excuses to stay"; "every day he had a new alibi for not getting a job"; "his transparent self-justification was unacceptable"

Synonym(s): alibi, exculpation, self-justification

Hypernym(s): defense, defence, vindication

· a note explaining an absence; "he had to get his mother to write an excuse for him"

Hypernym(s): note, short_letter, line, billet

· a poor example; "it was an apology for a meal"; "a poor excuse for an automobile"

Synonym(s): apology

Hypernym(s): example, illustration, instance, representative

· accept an excuse for; "Please excuse my dirty hands"

Synonym(s): pardon

Hypernym(s): forgive

· grant exemption or release to; "Please excuse me from this class"

Synonym(s): relieve, let_off, exempt

Hypernym(s): absolve, free

· serve as a reason or cause or justification of; "Your need to sleep late does not excuse your late arrival at work"; "Her recent divorce may explain her reluctance to date again"

Synonym(s): explain

Hypernym(s): justify, vindicate

· defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning; "rationalize the child's seemingly crazy behavior"; "he rationalized his lack of success"

Synonym(s): apologize, apologise, rationalize, rationalise

Hypernym(s): defend, support, fend_for

· ask for permission to be released from an engagement

Synonym(s): beg_off

Hypernym(s): request, ask_for, bespeak, call_for, quest

· excuse, overlook, or make allowances for; be lenient with; "excuse someone's behavior"; "She condoned her husband's occasional infidelities"

Synonym(s): condone

Hypernym(s): forgive