EXTENUATION

Pronunciation (US): (GB):

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)

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)