1. made less serious or blameworthy by providing partial excuses or justifications
Usage: often used in legal contexts

Examples

• The defendant’s crime was extenuated by his difficult childhood circumstances.
• Her tardiness was extenuated by the unexpected traffic jam.
• The judge considered the extenuated circumstances before sentencing.
• His guilt was extenuated by his genuine remorse and cooperation.
• The company’s poor performance was extenuated by the economic downturn.
• The student’s plagiarism was not extenuated by his claim of ignorance.