From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
apologize
v 1: acknowledge faults or shortcomings or failing; "I
apologized for being late"; "He apologized for the many
typoes" [syn: apologize, apologise]
2: defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by
reasoning; "rationalize the child's seemingly crazy
behavior"; "he rationalized his lack of success" [syn:
apologize, apologise, excuse, justify, rationalize,
rationalise]