explain away

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of explain away Prosecutors said that the kids had previously been in and out of the hospital for bruising, bleach burns and potential internal bleeding, among other reasons, all of which their parents were able to explain away, WLWT reported. Bailey Richards, People.com, 29 Dec. 2024 But in his tenure, he's never had to explain away a loss on his watch in a statewide race. Dana Ferguson, NPR, 26 Dec. 2024 The message on the left is the attempt of the main admin to explain away the message as a copy past mistake and reaffirm their undying love and faith in the leaderCourtesy the author; Screenshot from Telegram Whatever his health, Khamenei's age alone has made succession a major preoccupation. Kay Armin Serjoie, TIME, 16 Dec. 2024 The historical echoes are not easily explained away. Lenora Chu, The Christian Science Monitor, 4 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for explain away 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for explain away
Verb
  • But money alone doesn’t explain the absence of conscience.
    Todd L. Pittinsky, Sun Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2025
  • For some teams, a dark-horse mind-set might be better for strategic reasons: underdogs tend to focus on the positive outcome (winning), while top dogs tend to avoid negative outcomes (not losing), which could explain why underdogs sometimes play looser and with an eye to higher risks and rewards.
    Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • After various teachers, administrators and parents raised concerns about the efficacy and age appropriateness of the books, the school system initially allowed students to be excused when the books were read in class.
    Maureen Groppe, USA TODAY, 17 Jan. 2025
  • Prior to the pandemic, Pelosi denied Rep. Tammy Duckworth’s (D-Ill.) request to be excused from in-person voting due to similar concerns in 2014.
    Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 15 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Then there’s the ruling’s decision that national security could justify potential speech suppression.
    Lauren Feiner, The Verge, 24 Jan. 2025
  • Investors are betting that President Donald Trump’s pro-growth policies, together with a strong economy and softening inflation, could power earnings growth for companies and justify their lofty valuations after the gains of the prior two years.
    Sarah Min, CNBC, 24 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near explain away

Cite this Entry

“Explain away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explain%20away. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

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