extenuation

noun

Definition of extenuationnext
as in confession

Related Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

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.
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extenuation
  1. confession
  2. acknowledgment
  3. atonement
  4. vindication
  5. out
  6. rationale
  7. rationalization
  8. justification
Noun
  • The novel’s first pages find Helen reeling, following Pablo’s confession of his love for her.
    — Leslie Camhi, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2026
  • At the time, failing to answer an accusation was treated as a confession, and the jury returned a guilty verdict.
    — Jennifer Byrne, Popular Science, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of confession
Noun
  • And that little acknowledgment may be enough to make taking over the platform a less desirable direction for likely more cautious buyers like Disney that may want the technology but wish to distance itself from the brand.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The White House accord is an important acknowledgment that biosecurity belongs at the center of the AI safety conversation.
    — Raj Panjabi, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of acknowledgment
Noun
  • The person receives the opportunity for atonement; the consequence is assigned elsewhere.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 20 Sep. 2026
  • The holiday, starting Friday night, marks the beginning of the Jewish High Holy Days, leading up to Yom Kippur, the Jewish day of atonement.
    — Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of atonement
Noun
  • Staring down an assembly of the outraged, Digger spells out the ruthless logic of global capitalism and claims the world’s fuel dependency as the ultimate vindication.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Choi, a field engineer who has since returned to the same Georgia plant, said the claim is about vindication.
    — Hanna Park, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of vindication
Noun
  • Unfortunately for the Wolverines, Carr's first drive of the game was a quick three-and-out that was almost entirely on the ground, save for one 3-yard pass.
    — Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The Tigers were stopped for just one three-and-out but punted on seven of their 11 possessions.
    — PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of out
Noun
  • Well, the English language market is certainly growing, and that was also one of the rationales of the merger deal between All3Media and Banijay.
    — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The claims paying organizations that are best prepared to navigate this evolving environment will be those that combine uniform eligibility review, defensible payment rationales, dispute tracking and outcome analysis into a single cohesive process.
    — Christine Cooper, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of rationale
Noun
  • Except one of their newest members just accidentally blew up their entire case and rationalization for it.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The combined company’s streaming business, however, will be much bigger, with Paramount+, Pluto, HBO Max and Discovery+ all set to come under one roof, with rationalization likely.
    — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of rationalization
Noun
  • Harbaugh won't use injuries as an excuse, just as coach Sean McVay won't point to missing Garrett for five games and Donald for two as justification for the Rams' woes.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Stewart was an executive producer of his friend Colbert’s show and harshly criticized the cancellation, rejecting Paramount’s financial justification and accusing the company of bending the knee to the president.
    — Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of justification

Browse Nearby Words

extenuating
extenuation
extenuations
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Extenuation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extenuation. Accessed 25 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of emissary

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Oct. 23

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All