extenuate Meaning, Definition & Usage

verb lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of
mitigate; palliate.
- The circumstances extenuate the crime

L. extenuatus, p. p. of extenuare to make thin, loosen, weaken; ex out + tenuare to make thin, tenuis thin. See Tenuity.

imperfect & past participle Extenuated; present participle & verbal noun Extenuating

To make thin or slender; to draw out so as to lessen the thickness.
His body behind the head becomes broad, from whence it is again extenuated all the way to the tail. Grew.
To lessen; to palliate; to lessen or weaken the force of; to diminish the conception of, as crime, guilt, faults, ills, accusations, etc.; -- opposed to aggravate.
But fortune there extenuates the crime. Dryden.

Let us extenuate, conceal, adorn the unpleasing reality. I. Taylor.
To lower or degrade; to detract from. Obs.
Who can extenuate thee? Milton.
Syn. -- To palliate; to mitigate. See Palliate.

To become thinner; to make excuses; to advance palliating considerations. Burke.