extenuating

verb

Definition of extenuatingnext
present participle of extenuate
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"

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of extenuating Other extenuating circumstances beyond Goodman’s control also might be contributing to his reputation within the industry as a subpar defender. — Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 27 July 2026 But, generally, only one property can be claimed, unless there are extenuating circumstances. — Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 30 June 2026 However, there were extenuating circumstances in both games, which, when factored alongside San Antonio’s Game 3 win at Madison Square Garden and their dominance for nearly three quarters in Game 4, lend credence to the notion a bounce-back effort could well be in the cards. — Juan Carlos Blanco, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026 Travelers who need a passport faster can make an appointment at an in-person passport agency, which is available for those with various extenuating circumstances like having urgent travel plans abroad in the next 14 days. — Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 1 June 2026 His 2021 gun conviction also had extenuating circumstances, his attorney argued. — Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 14 May 2026 Citing these extenuating circumstances, Ford approached the administration late last year to request temporary tariff relief. — Byron Hurd, The Drive, 9 Apr. 2026 Typically only available under extenuating circumstances, the IRS determines your eligibility for OIC based on your assets, expenses, and income. — Kat Tretina, Sacbee.com, 27 Mar. 2026 The last four Wednesday games were necessitated by calendar quirks and unusual extenuating circumstances. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 11 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extenuating
  1. excusing
  2. justifying
  3. explaining
Verb
  • Not that Miss Manners is excusing those who burst into dinner parties after the roast has been ruined — along with the other guests’ attitudes, most likely — and then blame it on traffic.
    — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 28 July 2026
  • Part of that is the team’s fault, as Boone and Cashman have spent much of his career staunchly defending and excusing the former first-round pick’s poor play.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 8 July 2026
Definition of excusing
Verb
  • Some hailed McDonnell as an Anna Delvey-type scammer, justifying her brazen ripoff of faceless lenders by scoffing at the idea that society should feel sympathy for giant corporate entities.
    — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is the most capable smartwatch in Samsung's lineup, justifying its premium price with massive upgrades in endurance, screen visibility, and ruggedness.
    — Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of justifying
Verb
  • Their background needs explaining, and there is less internal precedent for what success looks like.
    — Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Creighton jokes, explaining that making the film accessible to people is far more interesting to her than some sort of contrived celebrity impact campaign.
    — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of explaining

Browse Nearby Words

extenuates
extenuating
extenuation
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Cite this Entry

“Extenuating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extenuating. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on extenuating

Nglish: Translation of extenuating for Spanish Speakers

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