as in excused
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 extenuated
Verb
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If students were not in class, they would be marked absent but would be excused if a parent called them out.—
Alec Johnson,
jsonline.com,
5 Sep. 2025 -
Paris Jackson wants to be excused from the narrative that she was involved in Michael Jackson‘s biopic, and is calling Colman Domingo out for his recent comments about her.—
Armando Tinoco,
Deadline,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Anytime there’s a federal budgetary surplus (which sounds laughable), Congress may conclude that past lawmakers have overtaxed their constituents such that a prompt return of the excess revenue is justified.—
Robert Goulder,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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Prosecutors said that seemed to be aimed at finding jurors who would be open to an argument that an attack on the presidential candidate was justified.—
Greg Allen,
NPR,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Green then explained the medical and industrial applications for these new knits.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
11 Sep. 2025
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Her therapist – who Heming Willis accidentally referred to her as her own caregiver – explained how normal these feelings were.—
David Oliver,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The mural was whitewashed over in August 2019, covering the artwork.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
10 Sep. 2025
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Inside a former patio-furniture store, a cedar-shingled building with oak floors and whitewashed interiors, was a pop-up craft activity to keep kids busy, while oysters and Champagne sat on ice for later in the day.—
Stephanie Krikorian,
Curbed,
11 Aug. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Extenuated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extenuated. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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