extenuating

American

[ik-sten-yoo-ey-ting] / ɪkˈstɛn yuˌeɪ tɪŋ /

adjective

serving to make a fault, offense, etc., appear less serious.

The judge gave him a comparatively mild sentence due to extenuating circumstances.

Other Word Forms

extenuatingly adverb
nonextenuating adjective
nonextenuatingly adverb
unextenuating adjective
unextenuatingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of extenuating

First recorded in 1600–10; extenuat(e) + -ing ²

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“The bottom line is: If consumers have jobs, barring extenuating circumstances, they will continue to spend money and pay their bills.”

From MarketWatch • Dec. 11, 2025

Swansea University students can access a carers passport to help facilitate reasonable adjustments and extenuating circumstances.

From BBC • Aug. 9, 2025

Kasten said the Dodgers and other teams try to accommodate fans with extenuating circumstances.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 27, 2024

“The one thing I can tell you is that everyone that’s ever worked for me has always gotten paid. Obviously, the circumstances here are a little extenuating, but yes, everybody will be paid eventually.”

From Slate • Apr. 18, 2024

“Isn’t it a pity that we didn’t meet under less extenuating circumstances?”

From "Nine Stories" by J. D. Salinger

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023