Synonyms: forgive, pardon, absolve, exonerate, acquit, justify, defend, make excuses for, make a case for, explain (away), rationalize, condone, vindicate, warrant, let off, release, relieve, exempt, spare, free, liberate, justification, defence, reason, explanation, mitigating circumstances, mitigation, extenuation, palliation, vindication, pretext, ostensible reason, pretence, front, cover-up, fabrication, evasion, travesty of, apology for, poor specimen of, pitiful example of, mockery of

Antonyms: punish, blame, condemn, hold to