does not justify

USAGE SUMMARY

"does not justify" is commonly used in written English and can be used when someone believes that an action, event, or decision cannot be excused or explained away.
For example, "Cheating on an exam does not justify getting a passing grade."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

But it does not justify triumphalism.

The New Yorker

This does not justify what they did.

The Economist

That does not justify his outburst.

The New York Times

This progress does not justify complacency.

The Guardian - Opinion

But that does not justify stripping courts of their role.

The New York Times

That does not justify it, but it explains it".

Independent

In democracies, the end does not justify the means.

The Economist

One country's spasm of economic nationalism does not justify another's.

The Economist

But it does not justify General Musharraf's self-appraisal.

The Economist

One person's foolishness does not justify the other's.

The New York Times - Magazine

But that still does not justify a death warrant.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "does not justify" to clearly and directly state that a reason or explanation is insufficient or unacceptable. It conveys a strong stance against excusing a particular action or situation.

Common error

Avoid using "does not justify" when you mean to convey that something provides a partial or weak justification. This phrase indicates a complete lack of justification, so choose a different phrase if you want to express a degree of justification, such as "partially explains" or "provides some context for".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "does not justify" functions as a negation of justification. It asserts that a particular reason, condition, or action fails to provide a valid or acceptable basis for excusing or defending something else. According to Ludwig, it’s commonly used to express disapproval or disagreement.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "does not justify" is a commonly used phrase to express the lack of a valid reason or excuse for something. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread use across various domains, primarily in news, science, and encyclopedic contexts. It's grammatically correct and functions to negate the legitimacy of a justification. Alternatives include "does not excuse" or "does not warrant". When using this phrase, ensure you are conveying a complete lack of justification rather than a partial one.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

does not excuse

Replaces 'justify' with 'excuse', indicating a lack of acceptable defense for an action.

cannot excuse

Similar to "does not excuse", but emphasizes impossibility.

does not legitimize

Substitutes 'justify' with 'legitimize', suggesting a lack of validation or authorization.

does not validate

Replaces 'justify' with 'validate', indicating a lack of confirmation or support for something.

fails to justify

Emphasizes the failure to provide justification.

does not warrant

Uses 'warrant' instead of 'justify', implying a lack of sufficient reason or need.

does not defend

Replaces 'justify' with 'defend', focusing on the inability to protect or argue in favor of something.

does not rationalize

Substitutes 'justify' with 'rationalize', highlighting the lack of logical explanation or excuse.

does not vindicate

Replaces 'justify' with 'vindicate', implying a failure to clear someone of blame or suspicion.

does not sanction

Uses 'sanction' instead of 'justify', indicating a lack of formal approval or permission.

FAQs

How can I use "does not justify" in a sentence?

You can use "does not justify" to express that a particular reason or situation does not provide a valid excuse for something else. For example, "The difficult circumstances "does not justify" the illegal actions."

What are some alternatives to "does not justify"?

Some alternatives to "does not justify" include "does not excuse", "does not warrant", and "does not legitimize". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to say "does not justify" or "doesn't justify"?

"Does not justify" and "doesn't justify" are both grammatically correct. "Doesn't justify" is a contraction and is more informal, while "does not justify" is more formal.

What is the difference between "does not justify" and "explains"?

"Does not justify" indicates that something is not excusable or acceptable, whereas "explains" simply provides a reason or cause without implying whether it's a good excuse. For example, "His background explains his actions, but it "does not justify" them."