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Glite Dictionary
to extenuate

to extenuate

2 8.8
To make a wrong action seem less serious to others
  • verb
  • /ɪkˈstɛnjuˌeɪt/
  • Formal
: atenuar
  • If, as the defendants testified, they had run out of water and their crops were dying, extenuating circumstances prompted the trespass.
  • extenuating circumstances

Examples

  • "But I wish to claim extenuating circumstances which will prove me innocent of criminal intent."

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Extenuating circumstances normally would be taken into consideration, but not in this case.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • Due to extenuating circumstances, he may be released later tonight.

    Independence Day (1996)

  • Due to extenuating circumstances, she has not yet been buried.

    Beau Is Afraid (2023)

  • Well, they must have felt the circumstances were extenuating if you got off so lightly.

    Melinda and Melinda (2004)

  • Our only hope is to prove extenuating circumstances or that you were incapable of knowing the nature of the crime.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, New York and New Jersey are dealing with extenuating circumstances that could cause voting problems.

    Blog text (8)

  • The school decided to extenuate her discipline record because of her difficult home situation.

  • The lawyer tried to extenuate his client's actions by explaining the stressful events that led to the incident.

  • To extenuate his mistake, he provided evidence showing he was under significant pressure at the time.

Synonyms

to soften
vsto extenuate
98 3.1

Make something less strong or harsh

tries to make a fault seem more forgivable rather than only gentler
to mitigate
vsto extenuate
90 5.8

Make something less harmful or painful

aims to show a fault is more excusable rather than actually reduce harm
to lessen
vsto extenuate
72 2.8

To make something smaller in amount or strength

focuses on making a fault seem more forgivable instead of merely reducing degree
to downplay
vsto extenuate
62 5.3

Show something as less important or serious than it is

aims to excuse a fault by showing it as more forgivable
to diminish
vsto extenuate
53 4.7

Make a person or thing seem less important

reduces blame by making a fault appear more forgivable rather than belittling status
to trivialize
vsto extenuate
  • US
25 7.0

Make something seem less important or serious

reduces blame to make a fault seem more excusable
to soft-pedal
vsto extenuate
4 7.6

To make a problem or bad news seem less important

makes a fault seem forgivable rather than only less emphasized
to palliate
vsto extenuate
  • Formal
1 8.8

Make a bad thing or its effects seem less serious without removing the cause

focuses on making a fault seem more forgivable rather than easing effects

Antonyms

to exacerbate
66 8.0

To make a problem or feeling worse

to aggravate
32 4.6

Make a problem or health condition worse

How Mitigating

to mitigate
90 5.8
to extenuate
  • Formal
2 8.8
to excuse
46 2.5
to justify
460 3.4
to explain
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

extenuate infinitive
extenuated past
extenuated past participle
extenuating present participle
extenuates third person singular

Morphology

extenuate = tenuate (semi-transparent) = ex + tenuate

The verb is formed by the prefix 'ex-' + 'tenuate' meaning 'weaken'; the meaning 'make an offense seem less serious' is a metaphorical extension of 'weaken', so the relation is recognizable but requires knowledge of the less common base verb.

Etymology

The word extenuate comes from Latin parts ex- ('out') and tenu- (from a word meaning 'thin'), so it originally meant 'to make thin'. That's why to extenuate a fault is to make its seriousness seem 'thinner' or smaller, so the action looks less serious or more forgivable.