'Extenuate' definitions:
Definition of 'extenuate'
From: WordNet
Definition of 'Extenuate'
From: GCIDE
- Extenuate \Ex*ten"u*ate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Extenuated; p. pr. & vb. n. Extenuating.] [L. extenuatus, p. p. of extenuare to make thin, loosen, weaken; ex out + tenuare to make thin, tenuis thin. See Tenuity.]
- 1. To make thin or slender; to draw out so as to lessen the thickness. [1913 Webster]
- His body behind the head becomes broad, from whence it is again extenuated all the way to the tail. --Grew. [1913 Webster]
- 2. To lessen; to palliate; to lessen or weaken the force of; to diminish the conception of, as crime, guilt, faults, ills, accusations, etc.; -- opposed to aggravate. [1913 Webster]
- But fortune there extenuates the crime. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
- Let us extenuate, conceal, adorn the unpleasing reality. --I. Taylor. [1913 Webster]
- 3. To lower or degrade; to detract from. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
- Who can extenuate thee? --Milton.
- Syn: To palliate; to mitigate. See Palliate. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Extenuate'
From: GCIDE
- Extenuate \Ex*ten"u*ate\, v. i. To become thinner; to make excuses; to advance palliating considerations. --Burke. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Extenuate'
From: GCIDE
- Extenuate \Ex*ten"u*ate\, a. [L. extenuatus, p. p.] Thin; slender. [Obs.] --Huloet. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'extenuate'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- abate,
- allay,
- alleviate,
- allow for,
- apologize,
- assuage,
- attemper,
- attenuate,
- bank the fire,
- bate,
- blunt,
- chasten,
- color,
- constrain,
- control,
- cramp,
- cripple,
- damp,
- dampen,
- de-emphasize,
- deaden,
- debilitate,
- devitalize,
- dilute,
- diminish,
- downplay,
- dull,
- ease,
- enervate,
- enfeeble,
- eviscerate,
- exhaust,
- explain,
- gloss over,
- gruel,
- ignore,
- justify,
- keep within bounds,
- lay,
- lay low,
- lenify,
- lessen,
- lighten,
- make allowance for,
- mince,
- mitigate,
- moderate,
- modulate,
- obtund,
- palliate,
- play down,
- qualify,
- rationalize,
- rattle,
- reduce,
- reduce the temperature,
- remit,
- restrain,
- sap,
- shake,
- shake up,
- slacken,
- slow down,
- slur over,
- smother,
- sober,
- sober down,
- soft-pedal,
- soften,
- soften up,
- stifle,
- subdue,
- sugarcoat,
- suppress,
- tame,
- temper,
- tone down,
- tune down,
- unbrace,
- undermine,
- underplay,
- unman,
- unnerve,
- unstrengthen,
- unstring,
- varnish,
- veneer,
- water down,
- weaken,
- white,
- whiten,
- whitewash