alibi
alibi out of
apologize for
ask forgiveness
beg indulgence
beg pardon
cover with excuses
defend
do penance
espouse
excuse
express regret
justify
lie out of
make apology for
offer excuse for
plead guilty
plead ignorance
rationalize
reform
repent
squirm out of
take back
think better of
vindicate
worm out of
fend for
support
color
colour
extenuate
gloss
mitigate
palliate
plead
apologized
apologizes
apologizing