adjective
extenuating
Extenuating (adjective) means making a fault or crime seem less serious by providing a partial excuse. Example: “The judge showed leniency because of extenuating circumstances.”
adjective
1
Making a fault or crime seem less serious by providing a partial excuse.
"The judge showed leniency because of extenuating circumstances."
How to use extenuating
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribes circumstances that help explain or soften the blame for something wrong.
Common pairings
extenuating circumstances
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more extenuating
- Superlative
- most extenuating
Fill the gap
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The judge showed leniency because of _____ circumstances.
Etymology
From Latin ex- ("out") plus tenuare, "to make thin" — the idea of "thinning out" blame.
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for extenuating
See all rhymes for extenuating →Frequently asked questions
What does “extenuating” mean?
The word “extenuating” means making a fault or crime seem less serious by providing a partial excuse. In plain terms, describes circumstances that help explain or soften the blame for something wrong.
How do you use “extenuating” in a sentence?
Here is “extenuating” used in a sentence: “The judge showed leniency because of extenuating circumstances.”
What part of speech is “extenuating”?
“Extenuating” is an adjective.
Where does the word “extenuating” come from?
The word “extenuating” comes from Latin. From Latin ex- ("out") plus tenuare, "to make thin" — the idea of "thinning out" blame.
