- justify
- I(New American Roget's College Thesaurus)v. exonerate, excuse, warrant, vindicate, acquit, absolve; prove right, free from blame. See vindication.II(Roget's IV) v.1. [To vindicate]Syn. absolve, acquit, clear; see excuse .2. [To give reasons for]Syn. plead, argue for, defend, support, apologize for, palliate, excuse, explain, sustain, maintain, advocate, brief, answer for, be answerable for, put in a plea for, stand up for, make allowances, rationalize, exculpate, speak in favor of, favor, champion, make a plea, acquit oneself of, show sufficient grounds for, countenance, do justice to, condone, pardon, make good, confirm, rebut, show cause; see also defend 3 , explain .Ant. convict*, condemn, implicate.3. [To prove by the event]Syn. warrant, verify, bear out; see prove .III(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus) v.vindicate, absolve, warrant, legitimize, show just cause, substantiate, answer for, defend, rationalize, support, exonerate, excuse.IV(Roget's Thesaurus II) verb 1. To show to be just, right, or valid: excuse, rationalize, vindicate. Idiom: make a case for. See RIGHT. 2. To be a proper or sufficient occasion for: call for, occasion, warrant. See RIGHT. 3. To assure the certainty or validity of: attest, authenticate, back (up), bear out, confirm, corroborate, evidence, substantiate, testify (to), validate, verify, warrant. See SUPPORT, TRUE. 4. To support against arguments, attack, or criticism: apologize, defend, maintain, vindicate. Idioms: speak up for, stand up for, stick up for. See SUPPORT. 5. To offer reasons for or a cause of: account for, explain, rationalize. See EXPLAIN.
English dictionary for students. 2013.