JUSTIFY Synonyms: 63 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'justify' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of justify are assert , defend , maintain , and vindicate . While all these words mean "to uphold as true, right, just, or reasonable," justify implies showing to be true, just, or valid by appeal to a standard or to precedent. // the action was used to justify military intervention

Q: When might 'assert' be a better fit than 'justify'?

The synonyms assert and justify are sometimes interchangeable, but assert suggests determination to make others accept one's claim. // asserted her rights

Q: In what contexts can 'defend' take the place of 'justify'?

The words defend and justify are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, defend implies maintaining in the face of attack or criticism. // defended his voting record

Q: When would 'maintain' be a good substitute for 'justify'?

While in some cases nearly identical to justify , maintain stresses firmness of conviction. // steadfastly maintained his innocence

Q: When is it sensible to use 'vindicate' instead of 'justify'?

In some situations, the words vindicate and justify are roughly equivalent. However, vindicate implies successfully defending. // his success vindicated our faith in him

justify

verb

ˈjə-stə-ˌfī

Definition of justify next

as in to explain

to be an acceptable reason for you seem to think that losing a basketball game justifies a temper tantrum

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in to defend

to continue to declare to be true or proper despite opposition or objections failed to justify the need for a war at this time

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb justify differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of justify are assert, defend, maintain, and vindicate. While all these words mean "to uphold as true, right, just, or reasonable," justify implies showing to be true, just, or valid by appeal to a standard or to precedent.

the action was used to justify military intervention

When might assert be a better fit than justify?

The synonyms assert and justify are sometimes interchangeable, but assert suggests determination to make others accept one's claim.

asserted her rights

In what contexts can defend take the place of justify?

The words defend and justify are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, defend implies maintaining in the face of attack or criticism.

defended his voting record

When would maintain be a good substitute for justify?

While in some cases nearly identical to justify, maintain stresses firmness of conviction.

steadfastly maintained his innocence

When is it sensible to use vindicate instead of justify?

In some situations, the words vindicate and justify are roughly equivalent. However, vindicate implies successfully defending.

his success vindicated our faith in him

Examples Sentences

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Recent Examples of justify Whether on track or public streets, the sound justified the work Dodge put into it. —

Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 12 Dec. 2024 In the wake of the shooting, there has been an outpour of anger towards the insurance industry for denying medical claims, with some going as far as cheering for Thompson's death and arguing that the shooter was justified in his actions. —

Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024 Even as the country seeks to emerge from the legacy of those seven horrible years, however, a new government elected in 2023 has become the first since the fall of the dictatorship to justify the regime’s extrajudicial killings and violent repression. —

Joshua Hammer, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Dec. 2024 The relationship went both ways, with Hezbollah fighters serving as shock troops that bolstered Assad’s flagging army — an intervention the group justified as protecting Shiite minorities and shrines in Syria from Islamist and jihadi factions in the opposition. —

Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 11 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for justify

Recent Examples of Synonyms for justify

Verb

This may explain the presence of the porcelain bowl fragment found on Mount Zion.

Stephan Pechdimaldji, Newsweek, 15 Dec. 2024
The star explained that exercising routinely was necessary because her body had to be conditioned for the flying stunts.

Latoya Gayle, People.com, 15 Dec. 2024