extenuated

verb

past tense of extenuate
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
  1. excused
  2. justified
  3. explained
  4. whitewashed
Verb
  • These departures would have probably been excused had the show captured the imagination of the audience.
    — Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Senior quarterback Dante Moore was nowhere to be found during media availability following the Ducks' loss on the road, which was noticed by every reporter in the room, but according to head coach Dan Lanning, his absence was excused.
    — Mark Harris OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of excused
Verb
  • The combo of Cruise and Iñárritu justified a $125M production greenligiht.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 4 Oct. 2026
  • But the underlying frustrations with these engines were entirely justified by what unfolded in Malaysia.
    — Luke Smith, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of justified
Verb
  • These systems are exhibiting group behaviors that cannot be explained as a swarm.
    — Michael Morris, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
  • In the lead-up to 2035, Hallmark explained the marque will focus on cars with ICE powertrains.
    — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of explained
Verb
  • Polished stone-tile floors, whitewashed walls, and spacious bathrooms are common elements of all the rooms.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The one-bedroom space is minimal, deliberately quiet, and whitewashed.
    — Katharine Sohn, Architectural Digest, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of whitewashed
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

extenuate
extenuated
extenuates
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Cite this Entry

“Extenuated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extenuated. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

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