excuse

Examples

• All

• I think you were looking for an excuse to push me out the door.

  Fiction book (1991)

• Let it be an excuse for being late to class.

  Detention (2003)

• So I wish I had a reason or an excuse or treatment.

• That incident gave you the excuse to suddenly do that.

• So the rest of you have no excuse at all.

• You had the best excuse for losing.

  The Hustler (1961)

• And I kept making all these excuses as to why it was OK.

• Don't make a lack of money an excuse not to serve your public.

  Academic text (2012)

• I have no excuse.

  Beverly Hills Cop (1984)

• He wrote an excuse for being late to the meeting.

Synonyms

R

reason

vsexcuse

∞ 1.0

A cause or explanation for something that happened

is specifically the defensive motive given for a fault or absence

E

explanation

vsexcuse

919 1.0

A statement that makes something clear or helps someone understand

focuses on defending or justifying a fault rather than merely clarifying

J

justification

vsexcuse

149 4.0

A reason or explanation that shows an action is acceptable

is used to defend faults or absences rather than prove rightness

R

rationale

vsexcuse

78 6.0

A set of reasons that explains a decision or action

is usually a single defensive reason for a fault or absence

A

apologia

vsexcuse

• Literature

3 9.9

A formal written explanation that defends someone's actions or beliefs after criticism

is a shorter personal reason for absence or failure, not a formal reply

E

excusal

vsexcuse

6.9

A reason given to explain or defend a mistake

has the same meaning but is the more common everyday form

Antonyms

A

accusation

402 3.1

A statement that someone did something wrong or illegal, even if it is not proven

Idioms

E

excuse you

• Informal

2 8.8

A sharp way to tell someone you are annoyed by their rude action

A

a thousand one excuse

• Informal

7.5

Many different reasons a person gives to avoid blame

Compounds

A

abuse excuse

• NSFW

1 8.4

An attempt to explain bad behavior by saying you were hurt in the past

G

go-to excuse

• Informal

1 4.7

A usual reason someone gives to avoid blame

H

half-baked excuse

• Informal

1 5.1

A weak reason someone gives to avoid blame

G

goddamn excuse

• Offensive

1 9.9

A rude way to say someone's reason is weak and not acceptable

W

wimpy excuse

• Informal

1 7.1

A weak reason someone gives to avoid blame

S

shoddy excuse

1 4.8

A weak, unconvincing reason someone gives for not doing something

B

bullsheet excuse

• Offensive

9.9

A false or silly story people tell to avoid blame

F

fuckwaffle excuse

• Offensive

9.9

A silly made-up reason someone gives to avoid blame

F

fucktillion excuse

• Offensive

9.9

A very large number of weak reasons someone gives to avoid doing something

H

hogshit excuse

• Offensive

9.9

A false story someone gives to avoid blame

T

threadbare excuse

7.0

A weak reason used so often people no longer believe it

W

weasellike excuse

• Informal

9.0

A dishonest reason someone gives to avoid blame

How Convincing

proof

∞ 2.5

justification

149 4.0

excuse

974 1.7

explanation

919 1.0

note

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Etymology