Roget's Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases by Peter Mark Roget

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