| Main Entry: | excuse |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | forgive, absolve; justify |
Synonyms: |
acquit, alibi, apologize for, appease, bear with, clear, condone, cover, defend, discharge, dispense from, exculpate, exempt, exempt from, exonerate, explain, extenuate, forgive, free, give absolution, grant amnesty, indulge, let go, let off, liberate, make allowances for, mitigate, overlook, pardon, pass over, plead ignorance, pretext, purge, rationalize, release, relieve, remit, reprieve, shrive, shrug off, spare, take rap for, tolerate, vindicate, whitewash, wink at |
| Notes: | an alias is an assumed name, an alibi is a form of defense whereby a defendant attempts to prove that he or she was elsewhere when the crime in question was committed, while an excuse is an explanation offered to justify or obtain forgiveness a pardon is the act of excusing a mistake or offense; an excuse is an explanation offered to justify or obtain forgiveness |
| Main Entry: | excused |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | exonerated |
Synonyms: |
discharged, freed, pardoned, permitted |
| Main Entry: | absolve |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | free from responsibility, duty |
Synonyms: |
acquit, bleach, blink at, clear, discharge, exculpate, excuse, exempt, exonerate, forgive, free, go easy on, launder, let off easy, let off the hook, let off, let up on, liberate, lifeboat, loose, pardon, release, relieve, sanitize, set free, spare, spring*, vindicate, whitewash, wink at, wipe it off, wipe the slate clean, write off |
| Notes: | one is absolved of blame or responsibility but is acquitted of a charge, usually a crime |
Antonyms: |
bind, blame, charge, condemn, convict, hold, impeach, incriminate, obligate, punish, sentence |
| Main Entry: | acquit |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | announce removal of blame |
Synonyms: |
absolve, blink at, clear, deliver, discharge, disculpate, exculpate, excuse, exonerate, free, let go, let off, let off the hook, liberate, release, relieve, vindicate, whitewash, wink at, wipe off |
Antonyms: |
blame, censure, condemn, convict, damn, denounce, doom, sentence |
| Main Entry: | condone |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | make allowance for |
Synonyms: |
buy*, disregard, excuse, forget, forgive, give green light, go along with, ignore, lap up, let it come, let it go by, let pass, look the other way, nod at, okay, overlook, pardon, pass over, remit, wink at |
Antonyms: |
censure, condemn, forbid, not allow, prevent |
| Main Entry: | cop out |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | abandon, quit |
Synonyms: |
back down, back off, back out, backpedal, desert, dodge, excuse, give the slip, have alibi, rationalize, renege, renounce, revoke, skip, use pretext, welsh, withdraw |
Antonyms: |
be ready, face, ready, take on |
| Main Entry: | discharge |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | dismiss from responsibility |
Synonyms: |
absolve, ax, boot out, bounce, bump, bust, can*, cashier, disburden, discard, disencumber, dispense, displace, eject, excuse, exempt, expel, fire, freeze out, give one notice, kick out, lay off, let go, let off, let one go, let out, lock out, nix, oust, privilege from, relieve, remove, replace, ride out on rail, run out of town, show the door, spare, supersede, supplant, terminate, unload |
Antonyms: |
assign, delegate, employ, engage, hire |
| Main Entry: | dispense |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | exempt from responsibility |
Synonyms: |
absolve, discharge, except, excuse, exonerate, let off, privilege from, release, relieve, reprieve, spare |
| Main Entry: | exculpate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | forgive |
Synonyms: |
absolve, acquit, amnesty, clear, condone, discharge, disculpate, dismiss, excuse, exonerate, explain, free, justify, let off, pardon, rationalize, release, remit, vindicate, wipe slate clean |
Antonyms: |
blame, condemn, sentence |
| Main Entry: | exempt |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | freed from responsibility |
Synonyms: |
absolved, beat the rap, clear, cleared, discharged, excepted, excluded, excused, favored, free, immune, let go, let off, liberated, not liable, not responsible, not subject, off the hook, outside, privileged, released, set apart, spared, special, unbound, unchecked, unrestrained, unrestricted, unshackled, void of, walked |
Antonyms: |
accountable, answerable, liable, nonexempt, responsible |