| verb | defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning “rationalize the child's seemingly crazy behavior” |
| verb | acknowledge faults or shortcomings or failing “I apologized for being late” |
| apology | noun | a formal written defense of something you believe in strongly |
| excusatory | adjective | offering or expressing apology |
| excuse | noun | a defense of some offensive behavior or some failure to keep a promise etc. |
| justificative | adjective | attempting to justify or defend in speech or writing |
| justificatory | adjective | attempting to justify or defend in speech or writing |
| justifiable | adjective | capable of being justified |
| justification | noun | a statement in explanation of some action or belief |
| justifier | noun | a person who argues to defend or justify some policy or institution |
| rationalization | noun | the cognitive process of making something seem consistent with or based on reason |
| rationalisation | noun | the cognitive process of making something seem consistent with or based on reason |