1
as in to explain
to give the reason for or cause of
after the surprise attack, military leaders struggled to explain away the nation's unpreparedness
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2
as in to excuse
to make (something) seem less bad by offering excuses
tried to explain away his adulterous affairs by saying that men are promiscuous by nature
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Recent Examples of explain away
This time, even Riley knew there was no sense in trying to explain away how close his Trojans had come.
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Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2024
Two losses to open the 2024-25 campaign could mostly be explained away by a pair of rough goaltending performances.
—Corey Masisak, The Denver Post, 14 Oct. 2024
The final section of Wilder’s play – the three acts are performed without an intermission in this production, with Parson’s Stage Manager having some fun explaining away any confusion – is one of American drama’s most foolproof scenes, and Leon and his cast pull it off nicely.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2024
There, unlike on television, his fragmented attention, peculiar thinking, and dangerous words cannot hide or be explained away.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 24 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for explain away 
Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2024
Two losses to open the 2024-25 campaign could mostly be explained away by a pair of rough goaltending performances.
—Corey Masisak, The Denver Post, 14 Oct. 2024
The final section of Wilder’s play – the three acts are performed without an intermission in this production, with Parson’s Stage Manager having some fun explaining away any confusion – is one of American drama’s most foolproof scenes, and Leon and his cast pull it off nicely.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2024
There, unlike on television, his fragmented attention, peculiar thinking, and dangerous words cannot hide or be explained away.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 24 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for explain away
Recent Examples of Synonyms for explain away
Verb
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And, as a clinical social worker explains this morning, the problem is only getting worse.Joanna Allhands, The Arizona Republic, 22 Nov. 2024
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More:Operation Lone Star explained: What's happening in Eagle Pass, Texas?John C. Moritz, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
Verb
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As in, so bad as to never be excused, ever? Miss Manners agrees there is an indelicacy to handling another diner’s place settings.Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
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You’d be excused for forgetting that both men were still running for the U.S. Senate in California.Laura J. Nelson, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
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The other side: The Nooksack Tribal Council declined to comment this week, but justified the evictions in a statement released this month by asserting its sovereign right to govern housing on tribal lands and to prioritize the needs of its current members.Christine Clarridge, Axios, 20 Nov. 2024
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There and elsewhere, the songs punch above the weight necessary for Christmas fluff, but most fail to clear the bar of justifying their presence in an already padded runtime.Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 17 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Explain away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explain%20away. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
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