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justify To give a plausible explanation for one's actions or decisions, often with the intention of making oneself seem more righteous than others. ■ "I'm justifying my love for eating pizza by saying it's a great source of protein."
Children A group of small, unintelligent beings who are often used as a way to justify poor decisions and behaviors. ■ "I knew this project was doomed from the start because the boss just didn't listen to the children."
difference The amount by which two or more things are not the same, often used to justify a breakup. ■ Sally and John broke up because they found out their difference in taste for pizza was too great to overcome.
extenuating A word used to describe an argument that is trying to justify something that is not really justified. ■He tried to use the "extenuating circumstances" excuse, but it didn't work. It's just not a valid reason for being late.
pretense A false or dishonest claim or excuse used to justify one's actions or beliefs. ■ "My dog ate my shoes, I swear it! I just found this pretense in the garbage can."
Reason A rational explanation for something, often used to justify one's actions or decisions. ■ I can't believe I forgot my keys at home. Reason: I was too busy thinking about the latest episode of The Office.
Alibi2 A clever excuse or falsehood used to justify one's absence from a place or event at a particular time. ■ John's alibi was that he was at home watching TV, but his neighbor saw him sneaking out of his house and caught him red-handed.
defending The act of awkwardly trying to justify oneself or one's actions, usually in a way that is both self-deprecating and humorous. ■ "I know I was supposed to bring a dish to the potluck, but I had a last-minute emergency. And by 'emergency,' I mean I got lost on my way to the grocery store and ended up at a bakery instead."