excuse
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
“These actions do not undo the harm caused or excuse our role in it,” Callaway wrote.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026
South Carolina residents who want to vote absentee must generally have an excuse.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026
“People are just looking for an excuse to have a little bit more whimsicalness to their day or a little bit more fun,” said Doyin Adeyemo, who runs the online payment-accessory brand Printerade.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 22, 2026
In other words, rising equity prices get reported as corporate earnings, which are then used as an excuse to … raise equity prices still further.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 20, 2026
“Well, excuse me for not knowing, Louise,” I snapped.
From "Secrets at Sea" by Richard Peck
But when it came time to settle up, Holdo was full of excuses.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 31, 2026
By 2007, I couldn't keep covering up my stumbling with excuses and so felt I had to reveal my diagnosis.
From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026
Bart DeLorenzo, L.A.’s most playfully provocative theater auteur, doesn’t need any excuses to direct a Henrik Ibsen play.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026
America’s greatest achievements have always required us to confront difficult problems without letting them become excuses for inaction.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026
She excuses herself a moment to prepare a tray of little snacks they urge her not to trouble herself to prepare.
From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez
You’ll be excused for viewing that shameless promotion with cynicism as long as you also leave room to appreciate it as an indicator of how far the group has pulled popular culture.
From Salon ● May 31, 2026
During the meal, he had a panic attack and excused himself to call his therapist.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 29, 2026
Lutnick said he found the comment "off-putting", and so he and his wife excused themselves and left the home.
From BBC ● May 14, 2026
The informant excused himself to head upstairs to retrieve the money, a signal for Haitian police commandos to storm in.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 29, 2026
“My son has been excused military service, on medical grounds—asthma.”
From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo
He damns terrorists with faint praise, as when he condemned the attack on a Jewish school in West Bloomfield, Mich., before excusing the perpetrator with the words “hurt people do hurt people.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026
Decrees excusing certain individuals from Mass are generally issued on much smaller scales, giving certain congregants a pass because of issues like illness or natural disasters, Hoover said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 11, 2025
School staff told Estyn that parents sometimes challenged the approach to behaviour and many described a few parents as "unsupportive, sometimes undermining staff by excusing poor behaviour".
From BBC ● May 7, 2025
I'm not excusing any of his behavior and I do think that if anyone is an unhealthy situation they have every right to leave and probably should leave.
From Salon ● Aug. 12, 2024
After excusing himself, he asked Vera if she needed a cab back to her hotel.
From "Bodega Dreams" by Ernesto Quinonez
Vocabulary lists containing excuse
"Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare, Act III
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"The War of the Wall" by Toni Cade Bambara
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"The House on Mango Street" and "The Road Not Taken"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
