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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What is, in most cases, an individual choice made by adults does not, by itself, constitute a clinical problem that justifies federal correction.—
Cláudia Nunes,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2026 -
The realist view is that NASA wants to fly a nuclear reactor as soon as possible, and the Mars launch window justifies the aggressive development schedule (and commensurate funding) to appropriators.—
David W. Brown,
Scientific American,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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And while absolutely none of that excuses my actions, that's what happened.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
3 Apr. 2026
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No grievance, no workplace conflict, no personal resentment ever excuses violence.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Which explains everything and nothing.—
Jeffrey Eugenides,
New Yorker,
4 Apr. 2026
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One explains why inflation exists, while the other tells you what to do when your rent goes up.—
Gerald Bradshaw,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
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“Extenuates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extenuates. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
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