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1. WordNet® 3.0 (2006)
extenuating
    adj 1: partially excusing or justifying; "extenuating
           circumstances"

2. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
extenuating \extenuating\ adj.
   serving or tending to reduce the severity of guilt or
   blameworthiness; as, extenuating circumstances.

   Syn: mitigating.
        [WordNet 1.5]

3. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Extenuate \Ex*ten"u*ate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Extenuated; p.
   pr. & vb. n. Extenuating.] [L. extenuatus, p. p. of
   extenuare to make thin, loosen, weaken; ex out + tenuare to
   make thin, tenuis thin. See Tenuity.]
   1. To make thin or slender; to draw out so as to lessen the
      thickness.
      [1913 Webster]

            His body behind the head becomes broad, from whence
            it is again extenuated all the way to the tail.
                                                  --Grew.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To lessen; to palliate; to lessen or weaken the force of;
      to diminish the conception of, as crime, guilt, faults,
      ills, accusations, etc.; -- opposed to aggravate.
      [1913 Webster]

            But fortune there extenuates the crime. --Dryden.
      [1913 Webster]

            Let us extenuate, conceal, adorn the unpleasing
            reality.                              --I. Taylor.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. To lower or degrade; to detract from. [Obs.]
      [1913 Webster]

            Who can extenuate thee?               --Milton.

   Syn: To palliate; to mitigate. See Palliate.
        [1913 Webster]

Thesaurus Results for Extenuating:

1. Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
altering, apologetic, assuasive, bounding, diminishing, excusatory, excusing, extenuative, extenuatory, justificatory, justifying, lenitive, lessening, limitative, limiting, mitigating, mitigative, mitigatory, modificatory, modifying, modulatory, palliative, qualificative, qualificatory, qualifying, refuting, rehabilitative, restricting, restrictive, softening, tempering, vindicative, vindicatory
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