What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Emphasize vs Justify - What's the difference?

emphasize | justify |

In transitive terms the difference between emphasize and justify

is that emphasize is to stress, give emphasis or extra weight to (something) while justify is to absolve, and declare to be free of blame or sin.

emphasize

English

Alternative forms

* emphasise

Verb

(emphasiz)
  • To stress, give emphasis or extra weight to (something).
  • His two-fingered gesture emphasized what he had told his boss to do with his job.

    Synonyms

    * betone * stress * underscore

    Antonyms

    * de-emphasize * downplay

    Derived terms

    * reemphasize * overemphasize * underemphasize

    justify

    English

    Alternative forms

    * justifie (obsolete)

    Verb

  • To provide an acceptable explanation for.
  • How can you justify spending so much money on clothes?
    Paying too much for car insurance is not justified .
  • To be a good, acceptable reason for; warrant.
  • Nothing can justify your rude behaviour last night.
  • * E. Everett
  • Unless the oppression is so extreme as to justify' revolution, it would not ' justify the evil of breaking up a government.
  • To arrange (text) on a page or a computer screen such that the left and right ends of all lines within paragraphs are aligned.
  • The text will look better justified .
  • To absolve, and declare to be free of blame or sin
  • * Shakespeare
  • I cannot justify whom the law condemns.
  • * Bible, Acts xiii. 39
  • By him all that believe are justified' from all things, from which ye could not be ' justified by the law of Moses.
  • To prove; to ratify; to confirm.
  • (Shakespeare)