as in excuse
an explanation that frees one from fault or blame
offered a weak justification for why he was so late
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Recent Examples of justification
In this particular case, legal justification will flow through China's Anti-Monopoly Law, first enacted in 2008 and strengthened through amendments in 2022, and originally presented as a mechanism to ensure fair market competition.
—
Dewardric L. McNeal, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2026
For years, the annual event has been held at the Washington Hilton, but an armed man shooting at the Secret Service inside the hotel has created a new justification for the controversial construction plan for a massive addition to the White House that would dwarf the main building itself.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026
The governor’s justification for redistricting is that Florida’s population has grown dramatically since the last congressional map was adopted in 2022 using 2020 census data.
—Jeffrey Schweers, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Apr. 2026
However, invoking these deaths as justification for more draconian state intervention is misguided and dangerous.
—Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for justification
Dewardric L. McNeal, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2026
For years, the annual event has been held at the Washington Hilton, but an armed man shooting at the Secret Service inside the hotel has created a new justification for the controversial construction plan for a massive addition to the White House that would dwarf the main building itself.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026
The governor’s justification for redistricting is that Florida’s population has grown dramatically since the last congressional map was adopted in 2022 using 2020 census data.
—Jeffrey Schweers, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Apr. 2026
However, invoking these deaths as justification for more draconian state intervention is misguided and dangerous.
—Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for justification
Recent Examples of Synonyms for justification
Noun
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Looking for an excuse to eat, drink and be merry this weekend?—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 Apr. 2026
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At Dos Pueblos High in Goleta, baseball coach George Hedricks needed no excuses to start freshman Mattias Di Maggio, considering last name of DiMaggio is one of the best baseball names in the history of the sport.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The assassination attempt failed — and Hinckley was arrested, tried and found not guilty by reason of insanity in 1982.—
Kelsie Cairns,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
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McCollum’s line was one of the biggest reasons the game never got complicated.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Justification.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/justification. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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