self-justification
2
6.9
- noun
- /ˌsɛlfˌdʒʌstɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/
:
autodefensa
- Their answer—Christianity and Euro-American civilization in exchange for land—might in retrospect seem like cynical self-justification.
I don't think that there's, I think it's very much about a personal, personal interest and personal self justification.
- I don't think that there's, I think it's very much about a personal, personal interest and personal self justification.
Examples
-
Ariely discusses the ease with which we convince ourselves that our self-justification story is true.
Blog text (16) -
Perhaps owing to a basic human need for self-justification, those who start wars usually seem to believe in the righteousness of their chosen course.
Academic text (2003) -
Either response seems to encourage him to continue on to the next person with even more self-justification.
Blog text (28) -
The need for self-justification can produce more firmly held beliefs.
Academic text (1991) -
I'm getting a wee bit fed up with all the self-justification.
-
Or more disturbing, with smug self-justification that they deserve whatever they can take, regardless of what it costs anyone else.
Blog text (34) -
It's the inner voice disguised as God, but to me it appears to be self-justification, and it has done incalculable harm.
Blog text (31) -
Unlike Irene's confession, his had been full of contradiction and self-justification.
Fiction book (1992) -
The acceptance of relativism may well undercut our impulse for self-justification, making us less ideologically smug and, perhaps, more tolerant of opposing worldviews.
Academic text (1992) -
After realizing he had made a mistake, he sought self-justification for his actions instead of admitting he was wrong.
Synonyms
859
1.7
A reason people give often as a written note to explain an absence
52
3.7
An excuse a person gives to avoid blame for not doing something
3
9.9
A formal written explanation that defends someone's actions or beliefs after criticism
1
9.9
The act of clearing someone from blame
Antonyms
198
6.1
Being responsible for your actions and having to explain them to other people
How Defensive
5
6.5
10
6.4
2
6.9
- Specialized
24
7.2
178
2.5
Surface Forms
Morphology
self-justification = justification (transparent) = self + justification + self
The meaning is a direct combination: 'self-' (of oneself) + 'justification' (a defence), so learners can infer it from the parts.
Etymology
Self-justification combines self- ('oneself') and justification, from just meaning 'right' or 'fair'. So self-justification is when someone defends or excuses their own actions by saying they were 'right', rather than admitting a mistake.