| 2. | apologize - defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning; "rationalize the child's seemingly crazy behavior"; "he rationalized his lack of success"plead - offer as an excuse or plea; "She was pleading insanity" extenuate, mitigate, palliate - lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of; "The circumstances extenuate the crime" | |