as in excusing
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"
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of extenuating
The Fed declined to share whether there were extenuating circumstances that would have required Cook to designate a second primary residence two weeks after designating the first one.
—
Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2025
Several more are under elevated pressure due to extenuating circumstances, which are outlined below and unique to each coach and his campus.
—Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 18 Aug. 2025
This week on Prime Video’s Countdown, personally extenuating circumstances led LAPD gangs and narcotics officer Lucas Finau to break protocol and exhibit atypically audacious behavior — all during a critical juncture in Hurricane Task Force’s ongoing manhunt.
—Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 10 Aug. 2025
There would be exclusions for communities facing low demand, economic distress, natural disasters and other extenuating circumstances.
—Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for extenuating
Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2025
Several more are under elevated pressure due to extenuating circumstances, which are outlined below and unique to each coach and his campus.
—Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 18 Aug. 2025
This week on Prime Video’s Countdown, personally extenuating circumstances led LAPD gangs and narcotics officer Lucas Finau to break protocol and exhibit atypically audacious behavior — all during a critical juncture in Hurricane Task Force’s ongoing manhunt.
—Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 10 Aug. 2025
There would be exclusions for communities facing low demand, economic distress, natural disasters and other extenuating circumstances.
—Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for extenuating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extenuating
Verb
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Procedures for excusing or deferring jury duty differs by county, according to the state’s judicial website.—
Tanasia Kenney,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Sep. 2025
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Ans suggests, before politely excusing himself to go do pre-race pull-ups with his brother in the woods across the street.—
Abe Beame,
Rolling Stone,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Pentagon hasn't released information publicly justifying the destruction of the boat.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
7 Sep. 2025
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Bob felt that Clark Gilmer was 'justifying the harm' done to trans people in her comments about King.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Police took Taddese’s phone and vehicle as evidence, which alarmed the family, Bernard said, explaining some of the family’s reservations about the police investigation.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
12 Sep. 2025
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About The Daily Money Each weekday, The Daily Money delivers the best consumer and financial news from USA TODAY, breaking down complex events, providing the TLDR version, and explaining how everything from Fed rate changes to bankruptcies impacts you.—
Betty Lin-Fisher,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Extenuating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extenuating. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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