justify

show to be reasonable or provide adequate ground for; "The emergency does not warrant all of us buying guns"; "The end justifies the means"

show to be right by providing justification or proof; "vindicate a claim"

defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning; "rationalize the child's seemingly crazy behavior"; "he rationalized his lack of success"

let off the hook; "I absolve you from this responsibility"

adjust the spaces between words; "justify the margins"