Synonyms and related words :
alibi out of, apologize for, apology, blind, cloak, color, cop-out, cover, cover story, cover with excuses, cover-up, device, excuse, explain, explanation, facade, feint, front, gloss, guise, handle, lame excuse, lie out of, likely story, locus standi, make apology for, mask, offer excuse for, ostensible motive, out, plea, plead ignorance, poor excuse, pretense, pretension, pretext, protestation, public motive, put-off, refuge, right, screen, semblance, sham, show, smoke screen, squirm out of, stalking-horse, stratagem, subterfuge, trick, varnish, veil, worm out of,