make excuses

VERB

refuse

Synonyms

STRONGEST

decline ignore protest rebuff reject turn down withdraw withhold

STRONG

demur desist disaccord disallow disapprove dissent dodge evade nix regret repel reprobate repudiate shun spurn

WEAK

beg off brush off dispense with give thumbs down to hold back hold off hold out not budge not budget not buy not care to pass up refuse to receive send off send regrets set aside turn away turn deaf ear to turn from turn one's back on

Antonyms

STRONGEST

accept allow approve

STRONG

agree consent endorse face meet sanction

WEAK

OK grant offer

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.

"I'm not here to make excuses," Van Dijk said.

From BBC • May 4, 2026

Green Dot did not make excuses for low achievement.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 10, 2026

"I'm careful not to make excuses but it comes from a lot of different variables," Shiffrin told reporters after the race won by the unfancied second-ranked Austrian pair of Ariane Raedler and Katharina Huber.

From Barron's • Feb. 10, 2026

“It’s easy to dismiss these collective occurrences as a byproduct of capitalism, to make excuses for the middle managers who aren’t willing to risk their own necks to push back,” Dorsey wrote.

From Salon • May 17, 2025

“I was ten. The guests were their age. Don’t make excuses for them. I have to come to grips with this now and forever.”

From "Confessions of a Murder Suspect" by James Patterson

make excuses

Example Sentences

Related Words