This is the 9869th most frequent Japanese word.
言い逃れ
Evasion or excuse to avoid responsibility.
言い逃れ is used to mean 'excuse' or 'justification' that might not be sincere or valid in this context.
彼が遅刻した理由はただの言い逃れに過ぎなかった。
The reason he gave for being late was nothing but an excuse.
言い逃れ here refers to someone's ability or skill in crafting excuses, showing it can be used in reference to proficiency in evading responsibility.
彼女の言い逃れの上手さに感心した。
I was impressed by how skilled she is at making excuses.
言い逃れ is portrayed as a tool or strategy to avoid revealing the truth, emphasizing a potentially manipulative aspect.