extenuate
Use Extenuate in a sentence
yuˌeɪt verb (used with object), ex·ten·u·at·ed, ex·ten·u·at·ing.
1.
to represent (a fault, offense, etc.) as less serious: to extenuate a crime.
2.
to serve to make (a fault, offense, etc.) seem less serious.
3.
to underestimate, underrate, or make light of: Do not extenuate the difficulties we are in.
4.
Archaic.
a.
to make thin, lean, or emaciated.
b.
to reduce the consistency or density of.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To extenuate
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Extenuate
is a GRE word you need to know.
So is extort. Does it mean:
| on the spur of the moment; without premeditation or preparation; offhand: |
| to wrest or wring money, information, etc. from a person by violence, intimidation, or abuse of authority; obtain by force, torture, threat, or the like. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
extenuate (ɪkˈstɛnjʊˌeɪt) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb | |
| 1. | to represent (an offence, a fault, etc) as being less serious than it appears, as by showing mitigating circumstances |
| 2. | to cause to be or appear less serious; mitigate |
| 3. | to underestimate or make light of |
| 4. | archaic |
| a. to emaciate or weaken | |
| b. to dilute or thin out | |
| [C16: from Latin extenuāre to make thin, from tenuis thin, frail] | |
| ex'tenuating | |
| —adj | |
| extenu'ation | |
| —n | |
| ex'tenuator | |
| —n | |
| ex'tenuatory | |
| —adj | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
extenuate
1520s, from L. extenuat-, pp. stem of extenuare "lessen," from ex- "out" + tenuare "make thin," from tenuis "thin" (see tenet). Related: Extenuated; extenuating; extenuation.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
Applicant must then refute, extenuate, or mitigate the government's case.
The record evidence is sufficient to mitigate or extenuate the negative security implications stemming from the alcohol arrests.
If the government meets its burden, it then falls to the applicant to refute, extenuate or mitigate the government's case.
The responsibility then shifts to the applicant to refute, extenuate or mitigate the government's case.
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