What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
warrants
Example
The police obtained a warrant to search the suspect's house. [warrant: noun]
Example
The evidence warrants further investigation. [warrants: verb]
Example
There are no warrants for his arrest. [warrants: noun]
justify
Example
Can you justify your decision to fire him? [justify: verb]
Example
The company tried to justify their price increase with rising production costs. [justify: verb]
Example
There is no way to justify cheating on an exam. [justify: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Justify is more commonly used than warrants in everyday language. Justify is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while warrants is less common and refers to a legal or official authorization or guarantee.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between warrants and justify?
Warrants is typically associated with a formal and legal tone, while justify can be used in both formal and informal contexts.