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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Plus, our governor issued a memo excusing fans from delays caused by celebrating.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
19 June 2026 -
Mixing those up can lead to either punishing good judgment or excusing bad results.—
Flavio Maluf,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
Verb
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This looser-fitting top sits right at the waistband and is made of a durable nylon and elastane blend that resists wear and tear (justifying the price point).—
Katie Jackson,
Travel + Leisure,
22 June 2026
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Whatever happens for the remainder of this World Cup cannot be used to justify a system that has nothing to do with development, or kids playing sports.—
Mac Engel
June 22,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 June 2026
Verb
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Thune has repeatedly explained that the bill, which Democrats and a handful of Republicans oppose, does not have the votes to pass in the Senate.—
Kaia Hubbard,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
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The Logan star also explains how the strenuousness of the fight scenes doubled as an artistic choice.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
18 June 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 23 Jun. 2026.
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