1
as in explained
to give the reason for or cause of
after the surprise attack, military leaders struggled to explain away the nation's unpreparedness
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in excused
to make (something) seem less bad by offering excuses
tried to explain away his adulterous affairs by saying that men are promiscuous by nature
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Recent Examples of explained away
Production is either exalted or explained away.
—
Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2026
The famed African American journalist investigated lynchings across the South and wrote about the savage incidents that the white press had already explained away.
—Case Thorp, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2026
Endometriosis has long been stigmatized and patient pain often explained away through other diagnoses, with the average diagnostic delay for endometriosis lasting four to 11 years.
—O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 26 Mar. 2026
Now, could it be maybe explained away?
—Lauren A. White, CBS News, 22 Feb. 2026
One downside of Oza’s model, Kipping notes, is that any fluctuations in the levels of sulfur dioxide, sodium and potassium observed on WASP-39b can be easily explained away as variability in eruptions.
—Nola Taylor Tillman, Scientific American, 13 Oct. 2025
Maybe the nuns could be transformed into spa therapists at a wellness retreat and the toxin explained away as a surfeit of matcha.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2026
The famed African American journalist investigated lynchings across the South and wrote about the savage incidents that the white press had already explained away.
—Case Thorp, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2026
Endometriosis has long been stigmatized and patient pain often explained away through other diagnoses, with the average diagnostic delay for endometriosis lasting four to 11 years.
—O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 26 Mar. 2026
Now, could it be maybe explained away?
—Lauren A. White, CBS News, 22 Feb. 2026
One downside of Oza’s model, Kipping notes, is that any fluctuations in the levels of sulfur dioxide, sodium and potassium observed on WASP-39b can be easily explained away as variability in eruptions.
—Nola Taylor Tillman, Scientific American, 13 Oct. 2025
Maybe the nuns could be transformed into spa therapists at a wellness retreat and the toxin explained away as a surfeit of matcha.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for explained away
Verb
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Over the course of 25 minutes Breslow and Kennedy explained their decision to fire one of the most accomplished managers in franchise history after just 27 games this season and elevate Triple-A manager Chad Tracy to the big league role on an interim basis.—
Mac Cerullo,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
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Studley explained the biological process responsible for the lobster’s two-toned appearance.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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No staff member is obligated to participate, nor are staff excused from normal duty for the purposes of their own participation.—
Megan De Mar,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
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More than 80 people have already requested to be excused from the case, according to the Associated Press, with no jurors picked on the first day of proceedings.—
Amethyst Martinez,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Commissioner Rob Manfred justified the partnership by saying Polymarket pledged strong market surveillance provisions and close communication from its compliance staff and the league.—
Dan Bernstein,
Sportico.com,
24 Apr. 2026
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Likelihood of success To be justified, the use of force must be likely to accomplish the war’s aims.—
Valerie Morkevicius,
The Conversation,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Explained away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explained%20away. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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