excuse

/ɪkˈskjuːz/
verb
  1. To forgive someone for a minor fault or mistake.
    • Please excuse my messy handwriting.
    • I hope you will excuse my interruption.
    • The teacher excused the student for being late.
  2. To provide a reason or explanation that removes blame or fault.
    • He tried to excuse his absence by saying he was sick.
    • Her difficult childhood does not excuse her actions.
    • Nothing can excuse such rude behavior.
  3. To release someone from a duty or obligation.
    • She was excused from the meeting because of a family emergency.
    • May I be excused from the table?
    • The doctor excused him from gym class for a week.
Antonyms
noun
  1. A reason or explanation given to justify a fault or mistake.
    • There is no excuse for treating people badly.
    • She came up with a creative excuse to avoid the party.
    • He made a weak excuse for being late.
  2. A reason or explanation that is not true, used to avoid doing something.
    • I've heard that excuse a hundred times before.
    • His excuse about the traffic sounded fake.
    • Stop making excuses and just do your homework.
What does "excuse" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean