extenuate

Meanings

• verb

  to make (a situation or an action) less severe, serious, or blameworthy by explaining the circumstances; to mitigate

• verb

  to speak or write at length about a subject; to elaborate

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Pronunciation

1. /ɪkˈstɛnjueɪt/
   
   
   
   Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1239958"

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Antonyms

aggravate

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Synonyms

mitigate

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Rhymes

Words rhyming with extenuate
extenuate , create , fate , great , late , mate , state

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Variants

List of all variants of extenuate that leads to same result
extenuate , extenuated , extenuates , extenuating , extenuator , extenuators , extenuatory

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Etymology

origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

from Latin extenuare ‘to thin out, weaken, attenuate’

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Trivia

Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

1. The word 'extenuate' comes from the Latin word 'extenuare', which means 'to thin out' or 'to weaken'.

2. In law, extenuating circumstances are those that lessen the blameworthiness of a defendant's actions.

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Related Concepts

informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

1. mitigate: To make less severe or intense; to alleviate or ease the effect of something.

2. justify: To make reasonable or valid; to provide a logical explanation or defense for an action or belief.

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Culture

Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

Extenuate has been used in various literary works, including in Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' and Milton's 'Paradise Lost'. In these works, it is used to describe the act of justifying or explaining one's actions or circumstances.

How to Memorize "extenuate"

1. visualize
   

   - Imagine the word 'extenuate' as a verb meaning to make less severe or blameworthy by explaining the circumstances. Visualize a situation where someone is in trouble and needs to explain their actions to lessen the blame or severity.

2. associate
   

   - Associate the word 'extenuate' with the idea of making something less severe or explaining circumstances. You could also associate it with the idea of justifying or providing an explanation for an action or situation.

3. mnemonics
   

   - One mnemonic for remembering the meaning of 'extenuate' is to think of the word as meaning 'to explain away' or 'to make less severe'.

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