extenuate

[ik-sten-yoo-eyt]

extenuate Definition

• 1. to make a fault or offense seem less serious; to provide an excuse or justification for something
• 2. to lessen the strength or effect of something

Using extenuate: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "extenuate" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

• Example

  He tried to extenuate his mistake by blaming it on his lack of sleep.

• Example

  The lawyer attempted to extenuate the defendant's actions by highlighting their difficult upbringing.

• Example

  The medication helped to extenuate the symptoms of the illness.

extenuate Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for extenuate

• mitigate
• palliate
• excuse
• justify
• rationalize

Antonyms for extenuate

• aggravate
• intensify
• exacerbate

Phrases with extenuate

• extenuating circumstances

  factors that make a fault or offense seem less serious, such as a difficult situation or personal problems

  Example

  The judge took into account the extenuating circumstances of the defendant's difficult childhood.

• extenuate oneself

  to try to make excuses for one's actions or mistakes

  Example

  He spent the entire meeting extenuating himself and trying to shift the blame onto others.

• extenuate the truth

  to make something seem less serious or important than it really is

  Example

  He was caught extenuating the truth about his qualifications on his job application.

Origins of extenuate

from Latin 'extenuatus', meaning 'made thin, weakened'

📌

Summary: extenuate in Brief

The verb 'extenuate' [ik-sten-yoo-eyt] means to make a fault or offense seem less serious, or to lessen the strength or effect of something. It can be used in legal contexts to refer to extenuating circumstances, or in personal contexts to describe someone trying to extenuate themselves. Synonyms include 'mitigate' and 'palliate,' while antonyms include 'aggravate' and 'intensify.'