explain away

British  

verb

1. (tr, adverb) to offer excuses or reasons for (bad conduct, mistakes, etc)

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explain away Idioms  

1. Dismiss or minimize the importance of something, especially something detrimental. For example, “His words were taken down, and though he tried to explain them away, he was sent to the Tower” (Thomas Macaulay, The History of England, 1855). [c. 1700]

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Example Sentences

The filmmakers got current members to talk, though mostly they try to explain away everything unsavory.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026

Collagen is the primary structural protein found in bone tissue and one of the hardest biomolecules to explain away as contamination when identified in this context.

From Science Daily • May 14, 2026

One of them attempted to explain away her condition by claiming it was difficult to speak when reporting from cold climates.

From Barron's • Feb. 19, 2026

But we tend to justify or explain away our own contradictions.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 5, 2025

There was no way to explain away what I’d seen.

From "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer

Related Words

• justify