as in excused
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 extenuated
Verb
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Plumlee, who had been excused from Monday’s media day activities for personal reasons, has continued to be absent from practice this week and hasn’t spoken about his second tour of duty with Charlotte yet.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
4 Oct. 2025 -
Fans could be excused if the finish felt like déjà vu.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Those numbers do not include killings that CMPD found to be justified self-defense.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Oct. 2025
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The justices will weigh whether Louisiana’s 2024 redistricting plan, which added a second majority-Black district, violates the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause or is justified under the Voting Rights Act.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Athletic recently explained UEFA’s primary two financial regulations — the football-earnings rule and the squad-cost rule.—
Paul Taylor,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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Bhavya Lal, a Professor of Policy Analysis with RAND School of Public Policy and a former NASA associate administrator for technology, policy, and strategy, explained in an interview with SpaceNews.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Mayorga combined the rhythms of the San Juanito - traditional Andean music - with rural Colombian cumbia, which arrived in Ecuador via the record industry, already processed and whitewashed.—
NPR,
NPR,
13 Oct. 2025
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The moss brings a splash of color that maintains a sophisticated and minimalist quality, while keeping a space from becoming whitewashed.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
6 Oct. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Extenuated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extenuated. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
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