mendacious excuses

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mendacious excuses" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe excuses that are false or intended to deceive. Example: "His mendacious excuses for being late only made the situation worse, as no one believed him."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Yet considering the enormity of what the Government has done – sacking an expert of world renown because he does not acquiesce to its political agenda, and then offering feeble and mendacious excuses in order to justify this – Dr Harris's stand is puny.

The Guardian - Opinion

The media of the "international community" have, till recently, had no qualms at accepting the patently mendacious excuses for the western invasion of Iraq with its slaughter of hundreds of thousands and the uprooting of millions, the tearing up the Geneva conventions and the impudent western adoption of torture and kidnapping as instruments of government.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

A mendacious county Communist Party boss concocts an excuse to send armed troops to crush a tax revolt.

The New York Times - Books

Of course, the needless deaths of so many people will no doubt be put down to "more cock-up than conspiracy", which is the platitude of choice these days for government ministers trying explain away their serial stupidity (which must be the excuse if our leaders aren't calculating and mendacious).

The Guardian - Opinion

But mendacious?

The New Yorker

A mendacious tatterdemalion.

The New York Times - Books

Most doctors are not mendacious orna?

The New York Times

Excuses, excuses, excuses.

The Guardian - Opinion

I was middling, mendacious, shy and timid.

The Guardian - Opinion

It is, therefore, a mendacious genre.

The Guardian - Books

It is mendacious to suggest otherwise.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "mendacious excuses", ensure that the context clearly demonstrates a deliberate intent to deceive, rather than simply providing inadequate or weak justifications.

Common error

Avoid using "mendacious excuses" in informal settings where simpler terms like "lies" or "untrue reasons" would be more appropriate. The phrase is best suited for formal or serious contexts involving significant deception.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mendacious excuses" functions as a descriptive phrase, where the adjective "mendacious" modifies the noun "excuses". It indicates that the excuses being offered are not merely weak or unconvincing, but deliberately false and intended to deceive. As Ludwig AI describes, this phrase is correct and indicates justifications that are false or intended to deceive.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "mendacious excuses" is a phrase used to describe justifications that are deliberately false and intended to deceive. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and appropriateness for describing deceitful rationalizations. While relatively formal, its use effectively conveys strong disapproval, but its usage is classified as rare. When using it, ensure the context involves a clear intent to deceive, and consider simpler alternatives like "false justifications" in more casual settings. The phrase appears primarily in news and media sources, indicating its relevance in discussions of public figures or events where dishonesty is a key issue.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deceptive alibis

Replaces "excuses" with "alibis", implying a more elaborate or contrived attempt to conceal the truth.

false justifications

Uses a more direct and straightforward term, "justifications", to replace "excuses", indicating a formal attempt to rationalize a behavior.

dishonest explanations

Substitutes "excuses" with "explanations", suggesting a broader attempt to clarify or account for something, while maintaining the "dishonest" descriptor.

fabricated pretexts

Replaces "excuses" with "pretexts", indicating a more sophisticated or deliberately constructed deception.

untruthful accounts

Uses "accounts" instead of "excuses", focusing on the narrative aspect of the deception.

contrived stories

Replaces "excuses" with "stories", highlighting the invented or artificial nature of the deception.

insincere apologies

Shifts the focus from justification to remorse, implying that the apologies offered are not genuine.

bogus reasons

Replaces "excuses" with "reasons", emphasizing the lack of authenticity in the given explanations.

specious defenses

Substitutes "excuses" with "defenses", suggesting a formal or legal attempt to justify an action, while highlighting its deceptiveness.

fraudulent claims

Replaces "excuses" with "claims", highlighting that the justifications are not only false, but intended to deceive.

FAQs

How can I use "mendacious excuses" in a sentence?

You can use "mendacious excuses" to describe justifications that are deliberately false or deceptive. For example, "The politician offered "mendacious excuses" to cover up the scandal".

What are some alternatives to "mendacious excuses"?

Alternatives include "false justifications", "deceptive alibis", or "dishonest explanations", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What does "mendacious" mean?

"Mendacious" means untruthful or deceitful. It describes someone who is prone to lying or making false statements.

Is "mendacious excuses" a formal expression?

Yes, "mendacious excuses" is a relatively formal expression, best suited for serious or professional contexts where the intent to deceive is a key aspect.