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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Casey Schmitt can be excused for failing to catch Ketel Marte’s fifth-inning fly ball during the Giants’ 6-2 loss Monday.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
26 May 2026 -
Given the profusion of riad tourist accommodation in Marrakech, you’d be excused for thinking the buildings originated as hotels.—
Rebecca Ann Hughes,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
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According to the Worldpay report, consumer openness drops sharply as purchase values rise, especially once transactions exceed even $1,000, and that skepticism is understandably justified.—
Jacques Ledbetter,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
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Too many decisions of this magnitude are made emotionally and justified financially afterward.—
Allen Buchanan,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
Verb
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What the administration has not explained is how school districts would replace the lost revenue.—
Garrett Shanley,
Miami Herald,
1 June 2026
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In practice, Teng explained, this means customers will soon be able to create a synthetic version of certain stocks by converting them into a digital token on the company’s BNB blockchain.—
Jeff John Roberts,
Fortune,
1 June 2026
Verb
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No longer a hidden gem or best-kept secret, Puglia’s dramatic beaches, Baroque cities, and whitewashed trulli are splashed over many an Instagram feed.—
Elizabeth Heath,
Travel + Leisure,
29 May 2026
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The living room features whitewashed stone walls, a curved plaster fireplace, and polished concrete floors, while the kitchen has flat-front wood cabinets, a waterfall eat-in island, and exposed wood ceilings above clerestory windows.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
11 May 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Extenuated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extenuated. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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