Can you justify the use of violence?
Source: tatoeba (7656)
Justify
/ˈd͡ʒʌstɪfaɪ/
Synonyms for "justify" (240 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (48)
Verb(13 words)
vindicateaccountedanalyzeanalyze graphsargue forarguesarticulateauthorizesavengeavengesbase a theoryclarifiescommunicated findings
Noun(15 words)
Adjective(1 words)
clear argument
Strong matches (72)
Noun(14 words)
confirmcontendcorroboratecry sour grapesdecontaminatedefenddemonstratedestigmatizedischargedismissdispense fromdo justice toexculpateexcuseexemptexempt fromexonerateexplainexplain awayextenuate
Verb(24 words)
defenddefend orderdefend positiondefendeddefendsdemonstrate methodsdeservedeserveddeservesdiscuss resultsearnearnedelucidatedexculpatedexculpatesexcusedexplainexplain causeexplainedexplains
Show 4 more words
Adjective(2 words)
deservingelaborate description
Adverb(1 words)
forcefully defended position
Related words (120)
Noun(33 words)
legitimately earnedlegitimatinglobscusematter for discussionmeritmerit selectionmeritsmotivatingnylghaipolicy evidence basepresent and accounted forpresent basisprovide reasonspublic benefits conceptrationalizingreasonreasoned argumentreasoningreasonssalves
Show 13 more words
strengtheningsubstantiate with factssubstantiatingsupport forcesupport framesupportssustainingtheory change lessonunderpinningverb basedwarrant discussionwarrantingwarrants
Verb(40 words)
legitimateslegitimizesmaintain beliefsmake an argumentmeritedmoralizemotivatespalliatespalliatingphilosophizedpleadspresent reasoningpropoundprove a claimprove a theoremprovesprovide supportrationalizerationalizedrationalizes
Show 20 more words
reasonedreenforceshow your workstrengthensubstantiate claimsubstantiate datasubstantiate evidencesubstantiatedsubstantiatessufficesupport a claimsupportingunderpinunderpinnedunderpinsupholdvalidatevalidate argumentsvindicatedvindicates
legitimatizelegitimizelet golet offmaintainmake upmeritnonprosoverrunpalliatepardonpermitpipi a formprovepurgequash the chargerationalizerehabilitatereinstate
Adjective(7 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: vindicate, absolve, account, account for, account for individual differences.
- Sentence evidence is available for justify, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wiktionary, wordnet, opengloss, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "justify".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "justify"
Keep "justify" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "justify" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "justify", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "justify" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
10 entriesMore specific
9 entriesjustify a claimjustify a decisionjustify a policyjustify a rulejustify an actionjustify an initiativejustify the conclusionjustify the hypothesisjustify the method
Collocations
6 entriesjustify a policyjustify the claimjustify the decisionjustify the methodjustify with evidencejustify your answer
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
3 entriesSample sentences
26 total sentences available.
How can you justify your rude behavior?
Source: tatoeba (38358)
How can you justify your behavior?
Source: tatoeba (66277)
Can you justify your action?
Source: tatoeba (69271)
Showing 4 of 26 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "justify"?
Closest matches include vindicate, absolve, account, account for, account for individual differences.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "justify"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.