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
  • Proprietary or uninterpretable systems do not excuse the obligation.
    — TerDawn DeBoe, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Any person who celebrates, encourages, or excuses actions like these is fundamentally wrong.
    — Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of excuse
Verb
  • Longer commutes, hills, uneven neighborhood streets, and weekend detours all make a stronger all-around bike easier to justify.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Throughout the film, the corporation constantly looks for ways to justify not making changes.
    — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of justify
Verb
  • Lanterns wastes little time explaining this backstory ad nauseam and instead creates an immediately inviting dynamic between him and Hal, who comes to him demanding information on Manhunters.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Cieloween explained that the moves shown by participants vary widely.
    — Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 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 25 Aug. 2026.

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