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- parts of speech:
- transitive verb, noun
- features:
- Word Combinations (verb, noun), Word Explorer
| part of speech: |
transitive verb |
| pronunciation: |
ihks
kyuz
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| inflections: |
excuses, excusing, excused |
| definition 1: |
to pardon or overlook.
Please excuse my tardiness.The school cannot excuse stealing; your son will be suspended, if not expelled.I hope you will excuse my not wearing a proper dinner jacket.Her love was blind, and she would excuse him any misdeed.- synonyms:
- forgive, overlook, pardon
- antonyms:
- punish
- similar words:
- condone, disregard, ignore, let off, make allowance for, remit
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| definition 2: |
to make apology for; request lenience for.
He excused himself for the loud coughing.- synonyms:
- apologize for
- similar words:
- make allowance for, palliate, rationalize, regret, repent
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| definition 3: |
to serve as partial or complete justification for; extenuate.
The illness excuses her absence.- synonyms:
- absolve, extenuate, justify, vindicate
- similar words:
- acquit, alibi, clear, explain, rationalize, sanction
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| definition 4: |
to release from obligation; exempt.
The government excused him from military duty.- synonyms:
- absolve, exempt, let off, release
- similar words:
- acquit, exculpate, exonerate, forgive, free, pardon, waive
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| definition 5: |
to allow to be dismissed, as a debt, punishment, or the like.
The rest of the jail term was excused because of the prisoner's good behavior.- synonyms:
- forgive, pardon, remit, waive
- similar words:
- amnesty, forbear
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| definition 6: |
to make a polite statement that allows (oneself) to leave the presence of others without the feeling of acting rudely.
Feeling tired, she excused herself and left the party quite early. |
| related words: |
absent, absolve, dismiss, except, justify, plead, release |
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| part of speech: |
noun |
| pronunciation: |
ihks
kyus
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| definition 1: |
an explanation offered to justify or request pardon for a fault.
He had a good excuse, so I had to forgive him.My excuse for not calling is simply that I've just been too busy.- synonyms:
- alibi, defense, explanation, justification
- similar words:
- apology, argument, cause, plea, warrant
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| definition 2: |
a reason for excusing.
A family vacation is not an excuse for being absent from school.- synonyms:
- alibi, grounds, justification, vindication, warrant
- similar words:
- evidence, proof, reason
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| definition 3: |
the act of excusing.
The judge's excuse of the speeding violation surprised even the driver of the car.- synonyms:
- absolution, forgiveness, justification, pardon, remission, vindication
- antonyms:
- punishment
- similar words:
- dismissal, exemption, explanation, forbearance, indulgence, lenience, release, reprieve, respite, waiver
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| definition 4: |
a pretext or subterfuge, esp. when used to escape disapproval or blame.
He said he had to go to the dentist, but that was just an excuse to get out of work early.- synonyms:
- pretense, rationalization, smoke screen
- similar words:
- alibi, cop-out, defense, loophole, pretext, subterfuge
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| definition 5: |
(informal) an example of something (followed by "for" or "of" and used in statements of disapproval).
He is a poor excuse for a father.This is a pathetic excuse for a sandwich!- similar words:
- example, specimen
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| related words: |
cover |
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| derivations: |
excusable (adj.), excusably (adv.), excuser (n.) |
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