extenuate
to represent (a fault, offense, etc.) as less serious: to extenuate a crime.
to serve to make (a fault, offense, etc.) seem less serious.
to underestimate, underrate, or make light of: Do not extenuate the difficulties we are in.
Archaic.
to make thin, lean, or emaciated.
to reduce the consistency or density of.
Origin of extenuate
1Other words from extenuate
- ex·ten·u·at·ing, adjective
- ex·ten·u·a·tive, adjective
- ex·ten·u·a·tor, noun
- non·ex·ten·u·a·tive, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use extenuate in a sentence
To be fair, there were some seriously extenuating circumstances this year.
The Unexpected Benefits of Thinking for Yourself in an Age of Polling | by Stephen Engelberg | November 9, 2020 | ProPublicaCarol Miller believes that this time around, the presidential election not only feels different because of the current state of the country, but also because of extenuating circumstances specific to her parish.
In reply, I can only say that I have nothing extenuated, and set down nought in malice.
Ancient Pagan and Modern Christian Symbolism | Thomas InmanI know the caution is given to a brave man, and nothing shall be extenuated.
The Water-Witch or, The Skimmer of the Seas | James Fenimore CooperStill, being a liberal-minded bird, he extenuated the professor's conduct as far as possible.
'That Very Mab' | May Kendall and Andrew Lang
Now by confining his Rudeness to little People, the Fault is much extenuated.
A Short View of the Immorality, and Profaneness of the English Stage | Jeremy CollierHe has stored a picture gallery in which posterity may see them as they lived, nothing extenuated nor anything set down in malice.
British Dictionary definitions for extenuate
/ (ɪkˈstɛnjʊˌeɪt) /
to represent (an offence, a fault, etc) as being less serious than it appears, as by showing mitigating circumstances
to cause to be or appear less serious; mitigate
to underestimate or make light of
archaic
to emaciate or weaken
to dilute or thin out
Origin of extenuate
1Derived forms of extenuate
- extenuating, adjective
- extenuation, noun
- extenuator, noun
- extenuatory, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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