extenuating
[ 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 WORDS FROM extenuating
Words nearby extenuating
Definition for extenuating (2 of 2)
extenuate
[ ik-sten-yoo-eyt ]
/ ɪkˈstɛn yuˌeɪt /
verb (used with object), ex·ten·u·at·ed, ex·ten·u·at·ing.
to represent (a fault, offense, etc.) as less serious: to extenuate a crime.
to serve to make (a fault, offense, etc.) seem less serious.
to underestimate, underrate, or make light of: Do not extenuate the difficulties we are in.
Archaic.
- to make thin, lean, or emaciated.
- to reduce the consistency or density of.
Origin of extenuate
OTHER WORDS FROM extenuate
ex·ten·u·at·ing, adjective ex·ten·u·a·tive, adjective ex·ten·u·a·tor, noun non·ex·ten·u·a·tive, adjectiveExample sentences from the Web for extenuating
British Dictionary definitions for extenuating
extenuate
/ (ɪkˈstɛnjʊˌeɪt) /
verb (tr)
to represent (an offence, a fault, etc) as being less serious than it appears, as by showing mitigating circumstances
to cause to be or appear less serious; mitigate
to underestimate or make light of
archaic
- to emaciate or weaken
- to dilute or thin out
Derived forms of extenuate
extenuating, adjective extenuation, noun extenuator, noun extenuatory, adjectiveWord Origin for extenuate
C16: from Latin
extenuāre to make thin, from
tenuis thin, frail