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Extenuated: meaning, definitions and examples

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extenuated

 

[ ɪkˈstɛnjueɪtɪd ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

legal context

To extenuate means to make a crime, offense, or mistake seem less serious than it actually is. This is often done by providing mitigating circumstances or evidence that lessens the perceived severity of the act. In legal settings, extenuating circumstances may influence sentencing by reducing culpability. Essentially, it is about presenting factors that contribute to a more favorable view of an individual's actions.

Synonyms

alleviate, diminish, mitigate

Examples of usage

  • The judge considered the extenuating circumstances before sentencing.
  • Her explanation served to extenuate her previous behavior.
  • The lawyer attempted to extenuate the defendant’s involvement in the crime.

Translations

Translations of the word "extenuated" in other languages:

🇵🇹 exaurido

🇮🇳 थका हुआ

🇩🇪 erschöpft

🇮🇩 lelah

🇺🇦 виснажений

🇵🇱 wyczerpany

🇯🇵 疲れた

🇫🇷 épuisé

🇪🇸 agotado

🇹🇷 tükenmiş

🇰🇷 지친

🇸🇦 مرهق

🇨🇿 vyčerpaný

🇸🇰 vyčerpaný

🇨🇳 疲惫的

🇸🇮 izčrpan

🇮🇸 þreyttur

🇰🇿 шаршаған

🇬🇪 გამოფიტული

🇦🇿 tükənmiş

🇲🇽 agotado

Word origin

The word 'extenuate' originates from the Latin verb 'extenuare', which means 'to make thin' or 'to lessen'. The prefix 'ex-' means 'out of' or 'from', and 'tenuare' means 'to make thin'. Its initial connotation was related to reducing the physical mass or density of something. Over time, the meaning evolved into the legal and moral domains, where it came to signify reducing the severity or importance of actions, often in a justifying or alleviating context. The English usage of 'extenuate' can be traced back to the early 17th century, indicating a long-standing incorporation of the term into legal and moral discussions.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #37,915, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.