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”; thin; -ate ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

Nothing can extenuate the horror of acts he spent his adult life trying to avoid.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 10, 2022

In my initial salvo, I pointed out that Yglesias had minimized the harm of copyright infringement with a rationale that could extenuate theft of any kind.

From Slate • Feb. 2, 2012

Exceptionalism can be a dangerous faith because of how much it can extenuate and excuse.

From Time • Feb. 4, 2010

In New York the instinct to "Garland" the monstrous -- to extenuate brutality and make a victim of the victimizer -- is more attenuated than in the Ivy League.

From Time Magazine Archive

"The world hath taught me much: I can understand; I can extenuate greater errors—I have done so; believe me, it is only for thy sake—" "But canst thou wholly acquit me—wholly justify me, Marsyas?"

From Saul of Tarsus A Tale of the Early Christians by Miller, Elizabeth