Antonyms for justify


Grammar : Verb
Spell : juhs-tuh-fahy
Phonetic Transcription : ˈdʒʌs təˌfaɪ


Definition of justify

Origin :
  • c.1300, "to administer justice;" late 14c., "to show (something) to be just or right," from Old French justifiier "submit to court proceedings" (12c.), from Latin iustificare "act justly toward, make just," from iustificus "dealing justly, righteous," from iustus "just" (see just (adj.)) + root of facere "to do" (see factitious). Of circumstances, "to afford justification," from 1630s. Meaning "to make exact" (now largely restricted to typesetting) is from 1550s. Related: Justified; justifying.
  • verb legitimize, substantiate
Example sentences :
  • How could he justify himself to her when he did not really know himself?
  • Extract from : « Malbone » by Thomas Wentworth Higginson
  • When he remained silent, she made an attempt to justify herself.
  • Extract from : « K » by Mary Roberts Rinehart
  • Who is there amongst you who cannot or who will not justify when they are accused?
  • Extract from : « Tales And Novels, Volume 4 (of 10) » by Maria Edgeworth
  • Aristocracy, like any other thing, must justify itself to mankind.
  • Extract from : « Alarms and Discursions » by G. K. Chesterton
  • God will not justify him, if he has a bad conscience or blunders in his philosophy.
  • Extract from : « Slavery Ordained of God » by Rev. Fred A. Ross, D.D.
  • It is ardently hoped that events may justify their confidence.
  • Extract from : « The Atlantic Monthly, Vol. 10, No. 58, August, 1862 » by Various
  • His conscience will not justify him before God, if he mistakes his duty.
  • Extract from : « Slavery Ordained of God » by Rev. Fred A. Ross, D.D.
  • So I am told they now give out, in order to justify themselves at your expense.
  • Extract from : « Clarissa, Volume 3 (of 9) » by Samuel Richardson
  • I have had success enough already to justify me in going on.'
  • Extract from : « Wilfrid Cumbermede » by George MacDonald
  • I will not justify myself, nor explain my actions: I do not love you.
  • Extract from : « A Hero of Our Time » by M. Y. Lermontov

Synonyms for justify

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019