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?

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Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use justify in a sentence?

1. Tony Pham:

   I don't understand how they justify doing that. And then turn around and look at the workforce in their face and tell them that they support them as employees of ICE and DHS, i don't understand it.

2. Fairchild Semiconductor International Inc:

   Specifically, the board believed that the consortium’s proposed $ 108 million CFIUS reverse termination fee would not adequately justify risking the company stockholder premium present in the ON Semiconductor transaction.

3. Carly Fiorina:

   I'm going to go into the Oval Office every single week. I'm going to ask the American people to take out their smart phones and I will say, 'Do you think we finally ought to force government to justify every dollar so we can cut any dollar and move any dollar? Press 1 for yes. Press 2 for no,'.

4. Emily Peterson:

   I could spend $ 3,000 a month on groceries and not be aware of it, even though I'm a chef and a mom and work hard, I couldn't justify the amount of money that was leaking through.

5. Gabonese Dorothee Adjakidjie:

   In our African culture there are taboos ... we say 'this child is cursed', we will say there is witchcraft, that this child is irrecoverable, when you live ... without knowing if you are he or she, when you have to constantly justify who you are, its not easy.