self-justifying

[ self-juhs-tuh-fahy-ing, self- ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

offering excuses for oneself, especially in excess of normal demands.
automatically adjusting printed or typed lines to fill a given space, especially to conform to a rigid margin.

self-justifying

adjective

offering excuses for one's behaviour, often when they are not called for

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Word History and Origins

Origin of self-justifying¹

First recorded in 1730–40

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Example Sentences

The licenses to kill were self-justifying.

From Salon

But the light that she turns on Pinochet and his money-grubbing, self-justifying descendants is not merely investigative in nature.

From Los Angeles Times

Transphobia and homophobia are self-justifying ideologies; hating trans people because they’re trans is good enough.

From Slate

Less than a year after he was forced out as prime minister by his own Conservative Party, Johnson unexpectedly stepped down as a lawmaker late Friday — “at least for now,” he said in a self-justifying resignation statement.

From Seattle Times

Less than a year after he was forced out as prime minister by his own Conservative Party, Johnson unexpectedly stepped down as a lawmaker late Friday - “at least for now,” he said in a self-justifying resignation statement.

From Washington Times

self-justification self-knowledge

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