| Learning / English Dictionary |
EXTENUATION
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
To act in such a way as to cause an offense to seem less serious
Synonyms:
extenuation; mitigation; palliation
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Hypernyms ("extenuation" is a kind of...):
decrease; diminution; reduction; step-down (the act of decreasing or reducing something)
Derivation:
extenuate (lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of)
Sense 2
Meaning:
A partial excuse to mitigate censure; an attempt to represent an offense as less serious than it appears by showing mitigating circumstances
Synonyms:
extenuation; mitigation
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Hypernyms ("extenuation" is a kind of...):
alibi; exculpation; excuse; self-justification (a defense of some offensive behavior or some failure to keep a promise etc.)
Derivation:
extenuate (lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of)
