extenuates

verb

present tense third-person singular of extenuate
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
  1. justifies
  2. excuses
  3. explains
Verb
  • That’s precisely the work AI is best suited to automate, not the work that justifies a marketing department.
    — Richard Freisberg, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • These are electric cars, which apparently justifies a vaguely techy-sounding alphanumeric assemblage.
    — Jason Barlow, Robb Report, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of justifies
Verb
  • Following another sharp exchange between the siblings, Ellen excuses herself from dinner.
    — Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026
  • None of that excuses his behavior, but a change of brain function, rather than a change of heart, is something his constituents need to consider.
    — Michael P.H. Stanley, STAT, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of excuses
Verb
  • Below, Bourne explains how and why Black in the British Frame fell out of print.
    — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Which perhaps explains why people keep trying to run it back.
    — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of explains
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Extenuates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extenuates. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

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