extenuating

UK: /ɪkˈstɛnjueɪtɪŋ/ US: /ɪkˈstɛnjuˌeɪtɪŋ/

From the verb extenuate: (⇒ conjugate)

extenuating is: ⓘ

v pres p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ex•ten•u•at•ing /ɪkˈstɛnyuˌeɪtɪŋ/   adj. 

1. that make something seem less serious by providing excuses:
   He attributed his poor grades at school to extenuating circumstances.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ex•ten•u•ate  (ik sten′yo̅o̅ āt′), v.t., -at•ed, -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.]
   • to make thin, lean, or emaciated.
   • to reduce the consistency or density of.

• Latin extenuātus, past participle of extenuāre, equivalent. to ex- ex-¹ + tenuāre to make thin or small; see -ate¹
• late Middle English (adjective, adjectival) 1375–1425

ex•ten′u•at′ing, adj. 
ex•ten′u•at′ing•ly, adv. 
ex•ten′u•a′tive, adj. 
ex•ten′u•a′tor, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

extenuate / ɪkˈstɛnjʊˌeɪt/ verb (transitive)

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 emaciate or weaken
4. to dilute or thin out

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin extenuāre to make thin, from tenuis thin, frail

exˈtenuˌating adjective

exˈtenuˌatingly adverb

exˌtenuˈation noun

exˈtenuˌator noun