- justify
- v1. warrant, authorize, legitimate, legitimatize, legalize; substantiate, give sufficient grounds for, show just cause, give reasons for; explain, tell one's story, rationalize, apologize, extenuate, palliate, make excuses, Inf. alibi, Inf. do a song and dance.2. defend, champion, fight for, plead for, stick up for, stand up for; support, uphold, sustain, bolster up, back, maintain, assert, Law. deraign, advocate, vouch, second, stand by.3. exculpate, prove or declare innocent, uphold innocence, pronounce or declare not guilty, remove guilt, free from blame; acquit, clear, clear one's name; release, set free, let go, dismiss, discharge; free, liberate, emancipate, deliver, let out of, let off, Inf. let off the hook, Theol. redeem; vindicate, exonerate, redress, right, set or put right, absolve, forgive, excuse, pardon.
A Note on the Style of the synonym finder. 2014.