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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of explain away
Such a reaction, brought about so quickly, would be easier to explain away if Avi’s life was definitively a tragedy.
—
Ben Travers, IndieWire, 22 Aug. 2025
To the transcendental artist these conventional interpretations of reality are emotional and rational constructs devised by man to dilute or explain away the transcendental.
—Roy Scranton
august 20, Literary Hub, 20 Aug. 2025
Trying to explain away a difficult play or a bad performance for some time while the storm is upon us is not an easy task to navigate or deal with and remain cool, calm and collected.
—Drew Vonscio, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Aug. 2025
This social belief explained away female self-expression as irrational and undesirable.
—Katie Collom, People.com, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for explain away
Ben Travers, IndieWire, 22 Aug. 2025
To the transcendental artist these conventional interpretations of reality are emotional and rational constructs devised by man to dilute or explain away the transcendental.
—Roy Scranton
august 20, Literary Hub, 20 Aug. 2025
Trying to explain away a difficult play or a bad performance for some time while the storm is upon us is not an easy task to navigate or deal with and remain cool, calm and collected.
—Drew Vonscio, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Aug. 2025
This social belief explained away female self-expression as irrational and undesirable.
—Katie Collom, People.com, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for explain away
Recent Examples of Synonyms for explain away
Verb
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In March 2025, Chelsea gave PEOPLE an exclusive update on Max's health journey, explaining that their son has had to relearn basic functions and attend physical therapy.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
26 Oct. 2025
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The canal connected increasingly specialized regions in the early US, explains historian Roger Ransom.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Their cry is not against the faith itself but against distorted theology that excuses cruelty.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
19 Oct. 2025
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After Politico reported that Young Republicans expressed outrageously racist, misogynistic and anti-Semitic sentiments, Vice President JD Vance excused it as just the edgy chat of young activists.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The midfield area certainly functioned better against Frankfurt, with Curtis Jones more than justifying his inclusion.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
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This isn’t to justify those prior murders.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Explain away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explain%20away. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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