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
Relevance
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extenuates
Verb
-
Lestat justifies his, uh, connection with Gabriella by arguing that vampires transcend petty human concepts like conventional morality.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
7 June 2026 -
Ransohoff’s second core argument is that speed matters—that the AI transition requires moving fast, and that urgency justifies building new organizations rather than investing in what exists.—
Cat Ward,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
With no more patients in the waiting room, Dua excuses herself to see Haynes in the OR, where medical resident Lee has begun the procedure.—
Elizabeth Cooney,
STAT,
8 June 2026
-
Because her beauty excuses all.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
But as Cost of Denial explains, there’s a process that families can use to attempt to get previously denied care covered.—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
PEOPLE,
11 Dec. 2025
-
The Game 3 buzzer beater finally gave her that moment, Wilson explains.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
10 Dec. 2025
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.
Cite this Entry
“Extenuates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extenuates. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
