vindication, justification, warant; exoneration, exculpation; acquittal; whitewashing., extenuation; palliation, palliative; softening, mitigation., reply, defense; recrimination., apology, gloss, varnish; plea; salvo; excuse, extenuating circumstances; allowance, allowance to be made; locus paenitentiae., apologist, vindicator, justifier; defendant., justifiable charge, true bill., justify, warrant; be an excuse for; lend a color, furnish a handle; vindicate; exculpate, disculpate; acquit; 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, [more]; say in defense; plead ignorance; confess and avoid, propugn, put in a good word for., take the will for the deed, make allowance 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.

vindicated, vindicating; exculpatory; apologetic., excusable, defensible, pardonable; venial, veniable; specious, plausible, justifiable.