extenuate

verb

ik-ˈsten-yə-ˌwāt How to pronounce extenuate (audio)
Definition of extenuatenext
as in to excuse
to make (something) seem less bad by offering excuses don't even try to extenuate their vandalism of the cemetery with the old refrain of "Boys will be boys"

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for extenuate
  1. excuse
  2. justify
  3. explain
  4. palliate
Verb
  • Following another sharp exchange between the siblings, Ellen excuses herself from dinner.
    — Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Calling yourself compassionate doesn't excuse dangerous accusations What, exactly, is hateful about a mother or father wanting their daughter to have a female-only locker room?
    — Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of excuse
Verb
  • At Wednesday’s hearing, Paul described Niembro as the most culpable of the four defendants and Ramirez as second, while acknowledging that Ramirez’s cooperation justified a significantly shorter sentence.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Rising prices could also lead shoppers to reconsider which rewards still feel small enough to justify.
    — Ashley Lynch, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of justify
Verb
  • Diesel fuel that is intended for off-road uses such as agriculture is exempt from federal and state excise taxes, and it is dyed for law enforcement purposes, the White House explained in a fact sheet.
    — NICHOLAS INGRAM, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Imagination and influence are tied together, Sherald explained.
    — Rebecca Schneid, Time, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of explain
Verb
  • Radiation can also be used to palliate painful bone metastases, as well as chemotherapy.
    — Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 1 Oct. 2024
  • Senior-home avatars who are designed to palliate dementia patients in their darkest days.
    — Longreads, Longreads, 12 Apr. 2024
Definition of palliate
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

extents
extenuate
extenuated
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Cite this Entry

“Extenuate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extenuate. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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