extenuate

verb

ex·ten·u·ate ik-ˈsten-yə-ˌwāt How to pronounce extenuate (audio)

-yü-ˌāt

extenuated; extenuating

transitive verb

: to lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of (something, such as a fault or offense) by making partial excuses : mitigate

There is no economic analysis that can extenuate bigotry.

Leon Wieseltier

… all the lies that society tells to justify its values and extenuate its conduct …

Robert Penn Warren

Did you know?

You have probably encountered the phrase "extenuating circumstances," which is one of the more common ways that this word turns up in modern times. Extenuate was borrowed into English in the late Middle Ages from Latin extenuatus, the past participle of the verb extenuare, which was itself formed by combining ex- and the verb tenuare, meaning "to make thin." In addition to the surviving senses, extenuate once meant "to make light of" and "to make thin or emaciated"; although those senses are now obsolete, the connection to tenuare can be traced somewhat more clearly through them. Extenuate is today mostly at home in technical and legal contexts, but it occasionally appears in general writing with what may be a developing meaning: "to prolong, worsen, or exaggerate." This meaning, which is likely due to a conflation with extend or accentuate (or both), is not yet fully established.

Example Sentences

don't even try to extenuate their vandalism of the cemetery with the old refrain of “Boys will be boys”

Recent Examples on the Web No sooner had news of the crime broken than the nationalist, anti-Semitic press began to extenuate and even to praise it as a blow against degenerate Jewish thought.

Adam Kirsch, The New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2020 Obviously, extenuating circumstances prevented the MLB season from getting underway.

Joey Hayden, Dallas News, 4 May 2020 The pandemic is an extenuating factor for some Republicans, important enough to make vote-by-mail a more viable option for some.

Grace Segers, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2020 Eligible users can email help@simplehabit.com noting extenuating financial circumstances due to the pandemic to receive free access until April 20.

Jazmin Goodwin, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2020 Now, there are exceptions to this idea: pregnancy, injury, extenuating life circumstances...

Stacy London, refinery29.com, 19 Mar. 2020 But because Japan does not fall under Airbnb’s extenuating-circumstances policy, Dr. Shields struggled to secure refunds.

Erin Griffith, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2020 Government agencies can activate Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) review processes during extenuating circumstances such as an emerging disease outbreak.

Alice Park, Time, 3 Mar. 2020 Green Bay 41, Raiders 7 — These circumstances clearly qualify as extenuating.

Steve Kroner, SFChronicle.com, 14 Dec. 2019 See More

单词	extenuations
释义	extenuate verb ex·ten·u·ate ik-ˈsten-yə-ˌwāt -yü-ˌāt extenuated; extenuating transitive verb 1 : to lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of (something, such as a fault or offense) by making partial excuses : mitigate There is no economic analysis that can extenuate bigotry. Leon Wieseltier … all the lies that society tells to justify its values and extenuate its conduct … Robert Penn Warren see also extenuating 2 : to lessen the strength or effect of (something) : weaken … it was true that he was an old friend and that … she felt a desire not to extenuate such ties. Henry James 3 a archaic : to make light of b obsolete : disparage 4 archaic : to make thin or emaciated extenuator ik-ˈsten-yə-ˌwā-tər -yü-ˌā- noun extenuatory ik-ˈsten-yə-wə-ˌtȯr-ē -yü-ə- adjective Did you know? You have probably encountered the phrase "extenuating circumstances," which is one of the more common ways that this word turns up in modern times. Extenuate was borrowed into English in the late Middle Ages from Latin extenuatus, the past participle of the verb extenuare, which was itself formed by combining ex- and the verb tenuare, meaning "to make thin." In addition to the surviving senses, extenuate once meant "to make light of" and "to make thin or emaciated"; although those senses are now obsolete, the connection to tenuare can be traced somewhat more clearly through them. Extenuate is today mostly at home in technical and legal contexts, but it occasionally appears in general writing with what may be a developing meaning: "to prolong, worsen, or exaggerate." This meaning, which is likely due to a conflation with extend or accentuate (or both), is not yet fully established. Synonyms deodorize excuse explain away gloss (over) gloze (over) palliate whitewash See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences don't even try to extenuate their vandalism of the cemetery with the old refrain of “Boys will be boys” Recent Examples on the Web No sooner had news of the crime broken than the nationalist, anti-Semitic press began to extenuate and even to praise it as a blow against degenerate Jewish thought. Adam Kirsch, The New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2020 Obviously, extenuating circumstances prevented the MLB season from getting underway. Joey Hayden, Dallas News, 4 May 2020 The pandemic is an extenuating factor for some Republicans, important enough to make vote-by-mail a more viable option for some. Grace Segers, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2020 Eligible users can email help@simplehabit.com noting extenuating financial circumstances due to the pandemic to receive free access until April 20. Jazmin Goodwin, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2020 Now, there are exceptions to this idea: pregnancy, injury, extenuating life circumstances... Stacy London, refinery29.com, 19 Mar. 2020 But because Japan does not fall under Airbnb’s extenuating-circumstances policy, Dr. Shields struggled to secure refunds. Erin Griffith, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2020 Government agencies can activate Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) review processes during extenuating circumstances such as an emerging disease outbreak. Alice Park, Time, 3 Mar. 2020 Green Bay 41, Raiders 7 — These circumstances clearly qualify as extenuating. Steve Kroner, SFChronicle.com, 14 Dec. 2019 See More Word History Etymology Latin extenuatus, past participle of extenuare, from ex- + tenuis thin — more at thin First Known Use 1529, in the meaning defined at sense 3a extenuations noun plural of extenuation as in palliations Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance palliations outs atonements confessions acknowledgments rationalizations vindications acknowledgements rationales cop-outs justifications pretexts colors apologies excuses pretences pretenses alibis defenses whitewashes reasons pleas guises
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extenuate

verb

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Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

noun