extenuate

[ ik-sten-yoo-eyt ]

/ ɪkˈstɛn yuˌeɪt /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR extenuate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), ex·ten·u·at·ed, ex·ten·u·at·ing.

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.

Nearby words

extensor muscle of fingers, extensor muscle of index finger, extensor muscle of little finger, extensor retinaculum, extent, extenuate, extenuating, extenuating circumstance, extenuating circumstances, extenuation, extenuatory

Origin of extenuate

1375–1425; late Middle English (adj.) < Latin extenuātus, past participle of extenuāre, equivalent to ex- ex-¹ + tenuāre to make thin or small; see -ate¹

Related forms

ex·ten·u·at·ing, adjectiveex·ten·u·a·tive, adjectiveex·ten·u·a·tor, nounnon·ex·ten·u·a·tive, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for extenuate

To extenuate her act—to give you her version, because she feared his might be worse?
The Fruit of the Tree|Edith Wharton
There was a vindictiveness in these crimes which no plea can extenuate.
The Land We Live In|Henry Mann
Whatever crimes may be condoned in Alexander, it is difficult to extenuate this traffic with the Turks.
Renaissance in Italy, Volume 1 (of 7)|John Addington Symonds
He felt it useless to quibble or to try to extenuate the facts.
The Street Called Straight|Basil King

He now endeavoured to extenuate the faults of the Colonel; and, in the place of an accuser, became his benevolent champion.
The Tiger Hunter|Mayne Reid

British Dictionary definitions for extenuate

extenuate

/ (ɪkˈstɛnjʊˌeɪt) /

verb (tr)

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

Derived Forms

extenuating, adjectiveextenuation, nounextenuator, nounextenuatory, adjective

Word Origin for extenuate

C16: from Latin extenuāre to make thin, from tenuis thin, frail

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