as in justifies
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 extenuates
Verb
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However, that hardly justifies a $100 increase over last year’s model, which had the same display and memory.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
8 Apr. 2026 -
To me, what this justifies is more responsible behavior by social platforms to cut down on their most harmful features.—
Sawdah Bhaimiya,
CNBC,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Justice Department says Bondi’s ouster excuses her from having to appear.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
12 Apr. 2026
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Continue reading … MEDIA HALL PASS — Nashville public school excuses Muslim students for daily prayer time during Ramadan.—
,
FOXNews.com,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Enjoy, and see you soon… A flood of cheap copies of Novo Nordisk’s blockbuster weight-loss drug in India is already reshaping the country’s fast-growing obesity medicine market, showing how quickly the patent cliff will affect GLP-1 makers like Eli Lilly, Bloomberg News explains.—
Ed Silverman,
STAT,
10 Apr. 2026
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Legally, as Randi helpfully explains, Deborah can film something as long as it’s not released until the noncompete is over.—
Jessica M. Goldstein,
Vulture,
10 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Extenuates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extenuates. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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