[verb] show to be reasonable or provide adequate ground for; "The emergency does not warrant all of us buying guns"; "The end justifies the means" Synonyms:warrant
[verb] show to be right by providing justification or proof; "vindicate a claim" Synonyms:vindicate
[verb] defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning; "rationalize the child's seemingly crazy behavior"; "he rationalized his lack of success" Synonyms:apologize, apologise, excuse, rationalize, rationalise
[verb] let off the hook; "I absolve you from this responsibility" Synonyms:absolve, free
[verb] adjust the spaces between words; "justify the margins"