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Extenuating: meaning, definitions and examples

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extenuating

 

[ ɪkˈstɛnjuːeɪtɪŋ ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

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.

Synonyms

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.

Translations

Translations of the word "extenuating" in other languages:

🇵🇹 atenuante

🇮🇳 कमज़ोर करने वाला

🇩🇪 mildernd

🇮🇩 meringankan

🇺🇦 пом'якшувальний

🇵🇱 łagodzący

🇯🇵 軽減する

🇫🇷 atténuant

🇪🇸 atenuante

🇹🇷 hafifletici

🇰🇷 경감하는

🇸🇦 مخفف

🇨🇿 polehčující

🇸🇰 oslabujúci

🇨🇳 减轻的

🇸🇮 omiljšujoč

🇮🇸 mildandi

🇰🇿 жұмсартатын

🇬🇪 შევამცირებ

🇦🇿 yüngülləşdirici

🇲🇽 atenuante

Word origin

The word 'extenuating' comes from the Latin 'extenuare', which means 'to make thin'. This term is derived from 'ex-', meaning 'out', and 'tenuis', meaning 'thin'. Its earliest use in English dates back to the late 15th century, and it was originally used in a more literal sense. Over time, the meaning evolved to pertain more specifically to legal and moral contexts, emphasizing the reduction of severity or culpability by providing justifying factors. The modern usage reflects a broader understanding of circumstances that can influence behavior, particularly in legal proceedings where the context of actions is pivotal. The shift in context has made 'extenuating' an important term in discussions surrounding justice, morality, and responsibility.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #25,978, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.