extenuate

American  

[ik-sten-yoo-eyt] / ɪkˈstɛn yuˌeɪt /

verb (used with object)

extenuated, extenuating

1. to represent (a fault, offense, etc.) as less serious.

   to extenuate a crime.

2. to serve to make (a fault, offense, etc.) seem less serious.

3. to underestimate, underrate, or make light of.

   Do not extenuate the difficulties we are in.

4. Archaic.

   1. to make thin, lean, or emaciated.

   2. to reduce the consistency or density of.

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extenuate British  

/ ɪkˈstɛnjʊˌeɪt /

verb

1. to represent (an offence, a fault, etc) as being less serious than it appears, as by showing mitigating circumstances

2. to cause to be or appear less serious; mitigate

3. to underestimate or make light of

4. archaic

   1. to emaciate or weaken

   2. to dilute or thin out

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Other Word Forms

• extenuating
  adjective
• extenuation
  noun
• extenuative
  adjective
• extenuator
  noun
• extenuatory
  adjective
• nonextenuative
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of extenuate

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin extenuātus, past participle of extenuāre, equivalent to ex- ex- ¹ + tenuāre “to make thin or small”; see origin at thin; see also -ate ¹ ( def. )

Explanation

To extenuate is to make less of something or try to minimize its importance. The fact that you walked your little sister to school because she missed the bus might extenuate your teacher's response when you show up late. Extenuate goes back to the Latin verb extenuāre, meaning "to thin" or "make thin." Someone might have a strong case against you for doing something wrong, but an added consideration can make it less serious, or extenuate, the circumstances that led to it. If you give an excuse that doesn't really relate to what was done, it won't extenuate the punishment. If something has a real bearing on what went wrong, it will extenuate the response, and you'll get in less trouble.

Example Sentences

Extenuate: to make or to become weak, thin or slender.

From Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology by Smith, John. B.

Nay more: It’s vertue is so much, That if a Lady get a Touch, Her griefe it will Extenuate, If she but smell of Chocolate.

From Chocolate: or, An Indian Drinke By the wise and Moderate use whereof, Health is preserved, Sicknesse Diverted, and Cured, especially the Plague of the Guts; vulgarly called The New Disease ; Fluxes, Consumptions, & Coughs of the Lungs, with sundry other desperate Diseases. By it also, Conception is Caused, the Birth Hastened and facilitated, Beauty Gain'd and continued. by Wadsworth, James

Extenuate, eks-ten′ū-āt, v.t. to lessen: to underrate: to weaken the force of: to palliate.—p.adj.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various

"Extenuate my conduct!"' she concluded, quoting Mr. Gibson's words.

From Wives and Daughters by Gaskell, Elizabeth Cleghorn