apologia

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun apologia contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of apologia are alibi, apology, excuse, plea, and pretext. While all these words mean "matter offered in explanation or defense," apologia implies not admission of guilt or regret but a desire to make clear the grounds for some course, belief, or position.

his speech was an apologia for his foreign policy

When could alibi be used to replace apologia?

The meanings of alibi and apologia largely overlap; however, alibi implies a desire to shift blame or evade punishment and imputes mere plausibility to the explanation.

his alibi failed to stand scrutiny

Where would apology be a reasonable alternative to apologia?

Although the words apology and apologia have much in common, apology usually applies to an expression of regret for a mistake or wrong with implied admission of guilt or fault and with or without reference to mitigating or extenuating circumstances.

said by way of apology that he would have met them if he could

When would excuse be a good substitute for apologia?

The words excuse and apologia are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, excuse implies an intent to avoid or remove blame or censure.

used illness as an excuse for missing the meeting

In what contexts can plea take the place of apologia?

The synonyms plea and apologia are sometimes interchangeable, but plea stresses argument or appeal for understanding or sympathy or mercy.

her usual plea that she was nearsighted

When might pretext be a better fit than apologia?

In some situations, the words pretext and apologia are roughly equivalent. However, pretext suggests subterfuge and the offering of false reasons or motives in excuse or explanation.

used any pretext to get out of work

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of apologia Frum’s apologia is so riddled with errors of commission, omission, perspective, and internal inconsistency that his heart hardly even seems to be in it. Dan McLaughlin, National Review, 6 Feb. 2024 An apologia writ in hair about what happens when a muscular intellect is married to frail corporate governance. Vanessa Friedman, New York Times, 27 Oct. 2023 The play at other times feels like the dramatist’s guilty apologia for leaving Kyiv when her mother refuses to budge. Peter Marks, Washington Post, 21 Sep. 2023 In a post-truth world, pugilists and zealots dismiss such scholarly arguments as apologia for Muslim violence or as a weak case for pluralism that divests Hindus of their rights as the majority. Supriya Gandhi, Foreign Affairs, 13 July 2020 See all Example Sentences for apologia 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apologia
Noun
  • The justification for all that torture and horror was 'stability'.
    Melik Kaylan, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
  • The panelists then criticized a wave of online support for the suspect, with many citing issues with the healthcare industry as justification for making jokes about Thompson's death.
    Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 6 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • In July, South Korea made a similar announcement, saying that the country is ready to start mass-producing a laser weapon that can shoot down drones at a fraction of the cost of conventional defense platforms.
    Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Bondi served as Florida’s top lawyer from 2011 to 2019, and later joined Trump’s defense team in his first Senate impeachment trial in 2020.
    Sara Dorn, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • The bad quarterback play, Davante Adams’ defection and season-ending injuries to four key defensive players were valid excuses before O’Connell’s injury, and now maybe the results of the final four games don’t matter.
    Vic Tafur, The Athletic, 9 Dec. 2024
  • Get your excuses exposed, your beliefs questioned, and your fears faced head-on.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Rapper Azealia Banks is demanding $1 million and a public apology from 1975 frontman Matty Healy amid their recent social media squabble.
    Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 9 Dec. 2024
  • The 1975 musician later issued a public apology on Reddit and took his tweets down.
    Rachel McRady, People.com, 9 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Still, the Selzer poll’s more than 16-percentage-point miss was wide enough that the pollster conceded she had been troubled by it and had racked her brain for explanations.
    James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2024
  • The Pemberton food and retail park in downtown Phoenix abruptly closed without explanation in February after three years.
    Bahar Anooshahr, The Arizona Republic, 17 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • The legislation is part of a broader push to inject religious teachings into schools and comes as a growing number of Republicans nationally have openly embraced arguments that American politics and culture are rooted in the Christian faith.
    KACEN BAYLESS THE KANSAS CITY STAR (TNS), arkansasonline.com, 14 Dec. 2024
  • The court is likely to schedule arguments in the Wisconsin case in March or April and issue a ruling by the end of June.
    David G. Savage, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • His alibi checked out and DNA tests years later further cleared him, Glas said.
    Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 7 Dec. 2024
  • The best one being when Avery uses Erica’s precious pup as an alibi for her midnight snacking that results in a memorable cameo from Dr. Spaceman himself, Chris Parnell.
    Shannon Carlin, TIME, 27 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Huang’s note is a vindication by an authoritative third party of CEO Pedro Martinez’s refusal to take out a short-term, high-interest loan that the mayor, a close union ally, proposed in July.
    Sarah Macaraeg, Chicago Tribune, 14 Dec. 2024
  • In a statement Monday morning, Hill said the dismissal is a vindication of his longstanding denial of the claims.
    Hayleigh Colombo, The Indianapolis Star, 9 Dec. 2024

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Thesaurus Entries Near apologia

Cite this Entry

“Apologia.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apologia. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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