extenuating

[ ik-sten-yoo-ey-ting ]

/ ɪkˈstɛn yuˌeɪ tɪŋ /

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adjective

serving to make a fault, offense, etc., appear less serious: The judge gave him a comparatively mild sentence due to extenuating circumstances.

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "IS" VS. "ARE"

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Question 1 of 7

IS and ARE are both forms of which verb?

Origin of extenuating

ex·ten·u·at·ing·ly, adverbnon·ex·ten·u·at·ing, adjectivenon·ex·ten·u·at·ing·ly, adverbun·ex·ten·u·at·ing, adjective

un·ex·ten·u·at·ing·ly, adverb

Above all, she had true vision of Stephen Arnold, glorifying nowhere, extenuating nothing.
Hilda|Sarah Jeanette Duncan
The inquiry naturally occurs, Are there no extenuating circumstances to be adduced on the part of the Japanese?
Continental Monthly, Vol. 4, No 3, September 1863|Various
I will gladly hear any extenuating circumstances that you may give, for I am loth to believe that you are guilty of treachery.
A Daughter of the Union|Lucy Foster Madison
Ralph attempted no apology, or excused himself by extenuating circumstances.
The Camp Fire Girls at the End of the Trail|Margaret Vandercook

He alone can judge how far the cruelty of Mr. Elliot was the outcome of extenuating circumstances.
The Longest Journey|E. M. Forster