言(い)い訳(わけ)がましい

いいわけがましい
i-adjective
sounding like an excuse
communicationevaluation
Conjugation
AffirmativeNegative
Present言(い)い訳(わけ)がましい言(い)い訳(わけ)がましくない
Past言(い)い訳(わけ)がましかった言(い)い訳(わけ)がましくなかった
て form言(い)い訳(わけ)がましくて言(い)い訳(わけ)がましくなくて
Adverbial言(い)い訳(わけ)がましく—
Conditional ば言(い)い訳(わけ)がましければ言(い)い訳(わけ)がましくなければ
Conditional たら言(い)い訳(わけ)がましかったら言(い)い訳(わけ)がましくなかったら
1. sounding like an excuse; excuse-making
Said of words or explanations that sound as though the speaker is making excuses.
言(い)い訳(わけ)がましいことを言(い)うな。
Stop making excuses.
It may sound like an excuse, but the roads really were jammed.
His explanation sounded rather like an excuse, and the people listening weren't convinced.

言(い)い訳(わけ) (excuse) + 〜がましい (smacking of), a suffix that makes i-adjectives with a critical tone.

Common patterns

  • 言(い)い訳(わけ)がましいことを言(い)う: to say things that sound like excuses
  • 言(い)い訳(わけ)がましく聞(き)こえる: to sound like an excuse
  • 言(い)い訳(わけ)がましいようですが: this may sound like an excuse, but (a polite lead-in)

Similar words

  • 押(お)し付(つ)けがましい: pushy
  • 恩着(おんき)せがましい: acting as if one is doing a big favor

Related Words