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
Verb
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The measure passed with 11 alderpersons in favor, two opposed and three excused.—
Bridget Fogarty,
jsonline.com,
27 Feb. 2026 -
When a flight attendant noticed, Dali faked vomiting to excuse her lengthy time in the bathroom, according to prosecutors.—
Aaron Katersky,
ABC News,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Instead, Hegseth pointed to threats from other weaponry such as ballistic missiles and drones that justified the operation.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
2 Mar. 2026
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That said, mortgage interest rates may already be low enough to justify taking action now.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Others can better explain his remarkable journey to make America better for the disenfranchised, and his zeal to help create a true rainbow of inclusion.—
Rick Davis,
CNN Money,
27 Feb. 2026
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Brownell explains that the decision to have Lady Danbury separate herself from the Queen wasn’t to grant Andoh an exit, but instead to push the friendship dynamic between the characters to grow and evolve.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Radiation can also be used to palliate painful bone metastases, as well as chemotherapy.—
Lauryn Higgins,
Flow Space,
1 Oct. 2024
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Senior-home avatars who are designed to palliate dementia patients in their darkest days.—
Longreads,
Longreads,
12 Apr. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Extenuate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extenuate. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.
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