protest, claim, deny, dance around, field, justify, substantiate, contextualize, snap back, dispute, reference, account for, excuse, counter, overstate, validate, puff, glorify (one's role), make excuses, rationalize, reiterate, attest, vindicate, explain, contend, qualify, restate, bend (the truth), defend (one's position), work out (a justification), cover (all one's bases), give a justification for, answer for, give an explanation for
brush aside, elude, evade, attack, ignore, bluff, exaggerate, oversimplify, omit (information), deflect, deviate, reject, divert (attention), parry, dodge, stave off, justify, maintain, complain, skirt, excuse, dismiss, avert, dance around (the topic), make excuses, recant, wander, qualify, ramble, tune out, digress, stray (off-topic)