Meaning | defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning. |
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Pattern | Somebody ----s something |
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Synonyms | apologize, excuse, rationalize, rationalise |
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Narrower | color, colour, gloss | Give a deceptive explanation or excuse for |
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extenuate, palliate, mitigate | lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of |
plead | offer as an excuse or plea |
Broader | defend, support, fend for | argue or speak in defense / defense of |
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Spanish | disculparse, disculpar, excusar, justificar, perdonar, racionalizar |
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Catalan | apologitzar, excusar, justificar, perdonar |
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Nouns | apology | an expression of regret at having caused trouble for someone |
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apology | a formal written defense of something you believe in strongly |