excuses

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“
His explanations and his excuses were the old story pleaded by all who put their hands into their neighbors 'pockets.

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Definitions (38)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (14)

  1. transitive verb To explain (a fault or an offense) in the hope of being forgiven or understood: He arrived late and excused his tardiness in a flimsy manner.
  2. transitive verb To apologize for (oneself) for an act that could cause offense: She excused herself for being late.
  3. transitive verb To grant pardon to; forgive: We quickly excused the latecomer.
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Toggle Century definitions Century Dictionary (13)

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Examples (50)

  • She'd be too busy to do a reading for a silly author, I was sure -- excuses were always my strong suit. —  F ;SF - vol 105 issue 01 - July 2003
  • Some of her excuses are a bit funny, but mostly pretty weak. —  The Third Edge of the Sword
  • Keep using the race card all you want for your shortcomings, but your excuses are your own. —  Home
  • The 17 excuses "allows for a certain amount of mischief," so the excuses should be abolished, said Del. —  News for Richmond Times-Dispatch
  • Here he laid himself open to the censure of all posterity; and although he had great excuses, and his course has many palliations, still it would seem a mockery of all moral distinctions not to condemn in him what we would condemn in another, or what Cromwell himself condemned in the murdered king. —  A Modern History, From the Time of Luther to the Fall of Napoleon For the Use of Schools and Colleges
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This word has been looked up 22 times.

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