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Translate files Extenuating
/ɪkˈstɛnjʊeɪtɪŋ/
Meaning & Definition
adjective
Servicing as a factor that lessens the seriousness or gravity of an offense.
The judge considered the extenuating circumstances of the defendant's life before deciding on the sentence.
Justifying or mitigating factors that reduce culpability.
Her extenuating circumstances, such as her illness, made the committee reconsider their decision.
Making an action or situation seem less serious or more forgivable.
He claimed that there were extenuating factors that led him to miss the deadline.
Etymology
From Latin 'extenuare', meaning to make thin.
Common Phrases and Expressions
extenuating circumstances
Factors that lessen the blame or seriousness of an action.
extenuating factors
Conditions that provide justification for a person's actions.
Related Words
mitigate
To make less severe or serious.
alleviate
To make suffering, deficiency, or a problem less severe.
Slang Meanings
To cover up or make excuses for wrongdoing.
He was just extenuating when he said he was late because of traffic.