| Main Entry: | explanation |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | clarification; reason |
Synonyms: |
account, annotation, answer, breakdown, brief, cause, comment, commentary, confession, definition, demonstration, description, details, display, elucidation, evidence, example, excuse, explication, exposition, expression, gloss, history, illustration, information, interpretation, justification, meaning, mitigation, motive, narration, note, recital, rendition, report, resolution, sense, showing, significance, specification, statement, story, summary, tale, talking, telling, vindication, writing |
Antonyms: |
complication |
| Main Entry: | account |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | written description of past events |
Synonyms: |
ABCs, annal, blow by blow, bulletin, chronicle, detail, explanation, history, lowdown, make*, narration, narrative, play by play, recital, report, run-down, score, story, tab, take, tale, the picture, the whole picture, version |
| Main Entry: | alibi |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | defense against charges of wrongdoing; evidence of absence |
Synonyms: |
account, affirmation, airtight case, allegation, answer, assertion, assurance, avowal, case, cop-out, cover, declaration, excuse, explanation, fish story, justification, plea, pretext, profession, proof, reason, reply, retort, song and dance, stall, statement, vindication |
| 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 |
| Main Entry: | annotation |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | explanatory note |
Synonyms: |
comment, commentary, definition, elucidation, exegesis, explanation, explication, footnote, gloss, glossary, illustration, interpretation, note, observation |
Antonyms: |
blank |
| Main Entry: | answer |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | reply; reaction |
Synonyms: |
acknowledgment, antiphon, back talk, backcap, band-aid, close, comeback, comment, cooler, counterclaim, crack, defense, disclosure, echo, elucidation, explanation, feedback, guff, interpretation, justification, key, lip, observation, parting shot, pay dirt, plea, quick fix, rebuttal, refutation, rejoinder, remark, repartee, report, resolution, response, result, retort, return, rhetorical question, riposte, sign, solution, statement, thank-you note, the ticket, topper, vindication, wisecrack |
Antonyms: |
question |
| Main Entry: | apology |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | offering of remorse, regret |
Synonyms: |
acknowledgment, admission, amends, atonement, concession, confession, defense, excuse, explanation, extenuation, justification, mea culpa, mitigation, plea, redress, reparation, vindication |
Antonyms: |
accusation, censure, charge, complaint, condemnation, criticism, defiance, indictment |
| Main Entry: | basis |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | foundation for belief, action |
Synonyms: |
antecedent, assumption, authority, axiom, backbone, background, backing, base, bedrock, cause, center, chief ingredient, core, crux, data, dictum, essence, essential, evidence, explanation, footing, fundamental, hard fact, heart, infrastructure, justification, keynote, keystone, law, nexus, nucleus, postulate, premise, presumption, presupposition, principal element, principle, proof, reason, root, rudiment, sanction, security, source, substratum, support, theorem, theory, underpinning, warrant |
| Main Entry: | caption |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | heading; short description |
Synonyms: |
explanation, head, inscription, legend, rubric, subtitle, title, underline |
| Main Entry: | cause |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | agent, originator |
Synonyms: |
account, agency, aim, antecedent, author, basis, beginning, causation, consideration, creator, determinant, doer, element, end, explanation, foundation, genesis, ground, grounds, incitement, inducement, instigation, leaven, mainspring, maker, matter, motivation, motive, object, occasion, origin, prime mover, principle, producer, purpose, root, source, spring, stimulation |
Antonyms: |
consequence, development, effect, end, fruit, issue, outcome, outgrowth, product, result |
| Main Entry: | commentary |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | analysis |
Synonyms: |
annotation, appreciation, comment, consideration, criticism, critique, description, discourse, exegesis, explanation, exposition, gloss, narration, notes, obiter dictum, observation, remark, review, treatise, voice-over |