as in confession
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Recent Examples of extenuation
Not surprisingly, fellow-travelers on the left criticized Conquest either from a wish to disbelieve the Soviet horrors or from an ideological sympathy that compelled extenuation of them.
—
Peter J. Travers, National Review, 29 Mar. 2022
Peter J. Travers, National Review, 29 Mar. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extenuation
Noun
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After chasing thousands of leads and pursuing several false confessions, investigators arrested the four men in 1999.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
20 Feb. 2026
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Investigators chased thousands of leads and several false confessions before the four men were arrested in late 1999.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The hearing is expected to be an official acknowledgment that the four men were wrongly accused, prosecuted and imprisoned.—
Julianna Duennes Russ,
Austin American Statesman,
19 Feb. 2026
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Mayoral press conferences and news releases began to include a running tally of involuntary transportations—an acknowledgment, perhaps, of some outer limit to the power of asking nicely from a screen.—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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China seems ready to accept Lithuania’s atonement.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
18 Feb. 2026
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Witherspoon was due for atonement.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
New York Times,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Rudnev’s actions speak of a man looking for peace, rather than vindication.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
20 Feb. 2026
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The report provides vindication for economists like Apollo’s Torsten Slok, who have stayed bullish despite widespread pessimism.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The senior got the final two outs, which kept the score close enough for the Hawks to tie the score in their half of the fifth inning.—
Lou Ponsi,
Oc Register,
25 Feb. 2026
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Check-in and check-out are seamless, and even with the digital entry system, there is a clear sense that someone on staff is available if needed.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The first thought that struck me was that the argument for greater competition between airlines is the exact rationale for school choice.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
18 Feb. 2026
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So what, Plashal asked the group, is the rationale for rolling in now?—
Danielle Paquette The Washington Post,
Arkansas Online,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Two at-odds facts can both be true, and all of us are susceptible to arrogance and self-serving rationalization.—
Carol Quillen,
Time,
21 Feb. 2026
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Whether that’s a reality or a rationalization will only be known once the hire materializes.—
Zach Berman,
New York Times,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The overall trajectory represents movement toward authoritarianism and democratic erosion, with scapegoating of Black, brown, and immigrant communities serving as justification for expanding federal power and potential election interference.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
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The conduct is without reasonable excuse or justification.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Extenuation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extenuation. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
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