v. 1 forgive, pardon, overlook, absolve, clear, exonerate, acquit, exculpate, pass over, disregard, wink at, ignore, be blind to, look the other way, pay no attention or heed (to), find or prove innocent (of) Please excuse my tardiness 2 release, let go or off, liberate, free, relieve, exempt, absolve; dismiss, Colloq let off the hook She was excused from attending class today You may be excused. 3 condone, allow, permit, defend, apologize for, justify, warrant, explain, vindicate, rationalize, mitigate, extenuate, palliate Poverty does not excuse your stealing
n. 4 apology, explanation, story, reason, justification, defence, plea, vindication, condonation, rationalization, extenuation, mitigation, palliation; basis, grounds, foundation, cause Can you think of any excuse for your behaviour? 5 forgiveness, remission, pardon, indulgence, reprieve, clearing, exculpation, absolution, exoneration, acquittal, disregard, heedlessness, vindication, clearance, acquittance Ignorance of the law is not an excuse 6 evasion, subterfuge, pretence, pretext, makeshift, escape, loophole, way out, Colloq alibi, stall, Slang cop-out He always uses his grandmother's illness as an excuse for missing school