Extenuating: meaning, definitions and examples

legal, moral

Extenuating refers to circumstances that lessen the severity or seriousness of an action or situation. It is often used in legal contexts to describe mitigating factors that may reduce a person's culpability. For instance, in a court case, extenuating circumstances might include a defendant’s difficult background or mental health issues that influenced their behavior. These factors are taken into consideration to determine appropriate punishment rather than leading to harsher penalties. This term highlights the importance of understanding the full context surrounding actions.

alleviating, excusing, justifying, mitigating.

Examples of usage

• The judge took into account the extenuating circumstances of the defendant's upbringing.

• Her extenuating circumstances included a serious illness that affected her decisions.

• In legal cases, it is crucial to present any extenuating factors.

• He hoped for leniency due to the extenuating circumstances he faced.