| excuse(verb, cover, favor, ease, moderate) |
| alibi(verb, support, favor, sustain, confirm) |
| defend(verb, support, show, favor, back) |
| justify(verb, support, cover, maintain, favor) |
| advocate(verb, support, maintain, favor, back) |
| apologize(verb, grieve, lament, deplore, regret) |
| assert(verb, support, maintain, favor, back) |
| condone(verb, support, cover, favor, ease) |
| cover(verb, ease, moderate, defend, explain) |
| exculpate(verb, support, cover, maintain, favor) |
| exonerate(verb, support, maintain, favor, back) |
| explain(verb, support, maintain, favor, back) |
| extenuate(verb, cover, ease, moderate, defend) |
| maintain(verb, support, favor, back, approve) |
| mitigate(verb, cover, ease, moderate, defend) |
| palliate(verb, cover, favor, ease, moderate) |
| pardon(verb, support, favor, sustain, confirm) |
| plead(verb, support, maintain, favor, back) |
| rationalize(verb, support, maintain, favor, back) |
| stand up for(verb, expression, idiom, phrasal verb, support) |