exoneration, exculpation; acquittal &c 970; whitewashing.
extenuation; palliation, palliative; softening, mitigation.
reply, defense; recrimination &c 938.
apology, gloss, varnish; plea &c 617; salvo; excuse, extenuating
circumstances; allowance, allowance to be made; locus paenitentiae
[Lat.].
apologist, vindicator, justifier; defendant &c 938.
justifiable charge, true bill.
v.. justify, warrant; be an excuse for &c n.; lend a color,
furnish a handle; vindicate; exculpate, disculpate†; acquit &c 970;
clear, set right, exonerate, whitewash; clear the skirts of.
extenuate, palliate, excuse, soften, apologize, varnish, slur,
gloze; put a gloss, put a good face upon; mince; gloss over, bolster
up, help a lame dog over a stile.
advocate, defend, plead one's cause; stand up for, stick up for,
speak up for; contend for, speak for; bear out, keep in countenance,
support; plead &c, 617; say in defense; plead ignorance; confess and
avoid, propugn†, put in a good word for.
take the will for the deed, make allowance for, give credit for,
do justice to; give one his due, give the Devil his due.
make good; prove the truth of, prove one's case; be justified by
the event.
Adj. vindicated, vindicating &c v.; exculpatory; apologetic.
excusable, defensible, pardonable; venial, veniable†; specious,
plausible, justifiable.
Phr. honi sot qui mal y pense; good wine needs no bush