apologist
noun
apol·o·gist ə-ˈpä-lə-jist 
plural apologists
: someone who speaks or writes in defense of someone or something that is typically controversial, unpopular, or subject to criticism
… an apologist for moneyed interests.
S. L. Price
S. L. PriceApologists argued that funneling contracts to his children did not matter too much since the projects—new roads, factories, airports—did get built. Johanna McGeary
Johanna McGearyApologists for the status quo will always claim that if change were really needed, the market would have already made it happen. Michael Grunwald
Michael Grunwald
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web There is a student petition on campus to silence him, calling him a defender or an apologist for Mr. Putin’s war. M. Todd Henderson, WSJ, 16 Mar. 2022 Mastriano has also worked in the state legislature to set aside Joe Biden’s victory and has been a tireless apologist for Trump’s efforts to sideline democracy. Philip Elliott, Time, 18 May 2022 Sontag was a shameless apologist for aesthetic pleasure. Design Art B., Longreads, 7 Apr. 2022 Many who view Schroeder as a Putin apologist are calling from him to step down from his executive positions with Gazprom, Rosneft and the Nord Stream gas pipeline projects. Erik Kirschbaum, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2022 Jake Tapper, not exactly a Biden apologist, said afterward. Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 1 Mar. 2022 Former President Donald Trump, of course, has been an Olympic-level Putin apologist for years. Peter Bergen, CNN, 6 Mar. 2022 The largest individual donor to former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard’s (D-Hawaii) PAC in 2021 is an apologist for Vladimir Putin who runs a nonprofit that aims to foster cooperation between the U.S. and Russia. Zach Everson, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2022 Dan Orlovsky, known as a frequent Carson Wentz apologist, had a simple response. Matthew Vantryon, The Indianapolis Star, 12 Jan. 2022 See More
M. Todd Henderson, WSJ, 16 Mar. 2022 Mastriano has also worked in the state legislature to set aside Joe Biden’s victory and has been a tireless apologist for Trump’s efforts to sideline democracy. Philip Elliott, Time, 18 May 2022 Sontag was a shameless apologist for aesthetic pleasure. Design Art B., Longreads, 7 Apr. 2022 Many who view Schroeder as a Putin apologist are calling from him to step down from his executive positions with Gazprom, Rosneft and the Nord Stream gas pipeline projects. Erik Kirschbaum, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2022 Jake Tapper, not exactly a Biden apologist, said afterward. Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 1 Mar. 2022 Former President Donald Trump, of course, has been an Olympic-level Putin apologist for years. Peter Bergen, CNN, 6 Mar. 2022 The largest individual donor to former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard’s (D-Hawaii) PAC in 2021 is an apologist for Vladimir Putin who runs a nonprofit that aims to foster cooperation between the U.S. and Russia. Zach Everson, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2022 Dan Orlovsky, known as a frequent Carson Wentz apologist, had a simple response. Matthew Vantryon, The Indianapolis Star, 12 Jan. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
borrowed from New Latin apologista, from Late Latin apologia "defense in speech or writing" + New Latin -ista -ist entry 1 — more at apology
First Known Use
1602, in the meaning defined above