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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Ahead of the process, Nussmeier’s father — who was excused by the Saints to spend time with his son on draft weekend — gave him some advice most rookies are likely to hear.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
1 May 2026 -
Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers excused Musk from the witness stand Thursday, but he may be called back later.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Gerrymanders that discriminate against Black voters could be justified today as merely offering partisan advantage to Republicans.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
2 May 2026
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Recent polling suggests that roughly 30% of young Americans hold the view that political violence can be justified in certain circumstances.—
Andrew Cuomo,
New York Daily News,
2 May 2026
Verb
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Talking to Vogue, Lauren Sánchez Bezos explained the inspiration behind her Schiaparelli gown.—
Dalila Muata,
NBC news,
5 May 2026
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Other factors, such as a decline in physical activity and hormonal shifts, play a role, Collen explained.—
Maggie O'Neill,
Verywell Health,
4 May 2026
Verb
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The island’s whitewashed, clifftop village offers romantic views of the Aegean Sea, and a steep, zig-zagging path climbs up the hillside to a church.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
23 Mar. 2026
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Sterilized, whitewashed, controlled, censored – all those words apply.—
Jim Axelrod,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Extenuated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extenuated. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
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