1 explain away | Definition of explain away
Logo
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

explain away

verb
explained away; explaining away; explains away

Definition of explain away

transitive verb

1 : to get rid of by or as if by explanation
2 : to minimize the significance of by or as if by explanation explains his faults, but does not try to explain them away— M. K. Spears
Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about explain away

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of explain away in a Sentence

after the surprise attack, military leaders struggled to explain away the nation's unpreparedness tried to explain away his adulterous affairs by saying that men are promiscuous by nature

First Known Use of explain away

1688, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Keep scrolling for more

More from Merriam-Webster on explain away

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for explain away

WORD OF THE DAY

See Definitions and Examples

Get Word of the Day daily email!