Thesaurus results for EXTENUATE

extenuate

verb

ik-ˈsten-yə-ˌwāt

Definition of extenuate

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"

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Verb

The Supreme Court ruled parents were entitled to notice and an opportunity to excuse their children from instruction that substantially burdened their religious exercise.

— Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 10 Aug. 2026
For me, the larger question is not whether artistic behavior excuses transgression, but how to hold artistic achievement and ethical accountability together without allowing one to erase the other.

— Andy Battaglia, ARTnews.com, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of excuse

Verb

Southampton’s status as one of England’s premier talent houses is justified by the top of this list thanks to their sale of a 16-year-old Theo Walcott to Arsenal in January 2006.

— Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
Crump also argued that the criminal charges subsequently brought against Hackett were only brought to justify the force Arellano had already used.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of justify

Verb

Neither the governor's office nor Wilson's office has explained why those two sections were left out between the May draft and the final trailer bill.

— Julie Watts, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
Here, The Athletic explains the latest situation in terms of both outgoings and incomings at St James’ Park.

— Chris Waugh, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of explain

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.

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extents

extenuate

extenuated

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“Extenuate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extenuate. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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