Synonyms for justify
ˈdʒʌs təˌfaɪjus·ti·fy

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:3.4 / 7 votes

1. justify

   Synonyms:
   absolve, acquit, applaud, approve, exonerate, pardon, pardon, praise

   Antonyms:
   blame, censure, condemn, convict, denounce, doom, reprobate, reprove, sentence

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:3.0 / 4 votes

1. justify

   Synonyms:
   clear, vindicate, exonerate, defend, absolve, excuse

   Antonyms:
   condemn, censure, convict, criminate

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:4.3 / 7 votes

1. justify, warrantverb

   show to be reasonable or provide adequate ground for

   "The emergency does not warrant all of us buying guns"; "The end justifies the means"

   Synonyms:
   rationalize, absolve, free, guarantee, apologise, excuse, rationalise, vindicate, apologize, warrant

2. justify, vindicateverb

   show to be right by providing justification or proof

   "vindicate a claim"

   Synonyms:
   rationalize, absolve, free, apologise, excuse, rationalise, vindicate, apologize, warrant

3. apologize, apologise, excuse, justify, rationalize, rationaliseverb

   defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning

   "rationalize the child's seemingly crazy behavior"; "he rationalized his lack of success"

   Synonyms:
   condone, apologise, explain, relieve, prune, rationalize, excuse, beg off, vindicate, warrant, cut, let off, apologize, free, rationalise, exempt, absolve, pardon

4. absolve, justify, freeverb

   let off the hook

   "I absolve you from this responsibility"

   Synonyms:
   unloose, relieve, apologise, unloosen, unblock, unfreeze, liberate, rationalize, excuse, vindicate, warrant, discharge, release, give up, apologize, rationalise, loose, disembarrass, resign, dislodge, shrive, relinquish, disengage, rid, exempt, absolve, free

5. justifyverb

   adjust the spaces between words

   "justify the margins"

   Synonyms:
   rationalize, absolve, free, apologise, excuse, rationalise, vindicate, apologize, warrant

Matched Categories

1. • Adjust
   • Printing
   • Uphold

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. justifyverb

   Synonyms:
   vindicate, warrant, defend, maintain, exculpate, excuse, exonerate, set right

2. justifyverb

   Synonyms:
   (Theol.) absolve, acquit, free from sin, clear from guilt

3. justifyverb

   Synonyms:
   (Printing.) adjust

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:1.0 / 1 vote

1. justifyverb

   Synonyms:
   vindicate, warrant, excuse, exonorate, exculpate, absolve, defend

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "justify":

   warrant, substantiate, justifying, justified, motivate, legitimise, explain, justification, defend, excuse, legitimize

Suggested Resources

1. Justify

   Warrant vs Justify -- In this Grammar.com article you will learn the differences between the words Warrant and Justify.

How to pronounce justify?

How to say justify in sign language?

Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use justify in a sentence?

1. Tampa Bay:

   How is this 'Stand Your Ground' law? she asked. It’s not! Markeis pushed him, how does that justify a bullet?

2. Vince Cable:

   In any circumstance it is hard to justify, but more so given the money comes from people struggling with compulsive gambling, this is an industry body needing tighter regulation. We have started high-stake gaming machines. We now need to move into online gambling, and curbing the advertising around it.

3. Hunter Biden:

   It’s like a confessional novel, but you justify your behavior in a certain way.

4. Daniel Ho:

   E-cigarette use is a controversial topic, while supporters are optimistic about the potential for harm reduction in the minority of established cigarette smokers,( for) which convincing evidence is lacking, this does not seem to justify the potential harm of re-normalizing cigarette smoking, delaying smoking cessation, and escalating to real cigarette smoking, especially among the majority non-smoking young people.

5. Mohamed Adow:

   We know to be able to solve the climate crisis we need to mobilize resources on an emergency scale, and so a narrative that includes and explains justice is essential to justify this support and its scale.