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
  • Feeling overwhelmed, Martinez excused herself to the bathroom to collect her thoughts.
    — Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 7 July 2026
  • Medellín excused herself and headed across the street — there was more fiesta to enjoy.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Definition of excuse
Verb
  • But the evidence does not support the claim that noncitizen voting is occurring at a scale that justifies burdening millions of eligible Americans or overriding state election systems with a sweeping federal mandate.
    — Reid Ribble, Time, 8 July 2026
  • How will Google justify the price increase outside of pointing to the mess that is the RAM crisis?
    — Janhoi McGregor, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of justify
Verb
  • Lobello explains why soccer is such an efficient form of exercise and what the World Cup could mean for adults looking to get active.
    — Nicole Williams, AJC.com, 14 July 2026
  • Shimizu voluntarily stayed in Vietnam after World War II to join the Việt Minh resistance, opposing French colonial reoccupation, the photographer explained.
    — Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 14 July 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.

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Cite this Entry

“Extenuate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extenuate. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on extenuate

Nglish: Translation of extenuate for Spanish Speakers

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