verb
- to make (a fault or offense) seem less serious by providing partial excuses or explanations
Usage: formal
Examples
- The lawyer tried to extenuate his client’s crime by citing difficult circumstances.
- Nothing can extenuate the severity of his actions.
- She attempted to extenuate her mistake by explaining the time pressure she was under.
- The judge refused to let personal problems extenuate the defendant’s behavior.
- His youth may extenuate the offense, but it doesn’t excuse it entirely.
- The committee considered several factors that might extenuate the violation.