extenuating

American  

[ik-sten-yoo-ey-ting] / ɪkˈstɛn yuˌeɪ tɪŋ /

adjective

1. serving to make a fault, offense, etc., appear less serious.

   The judge gave him a comparatively mild sentence due to extenuating circumstances.

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Other Word Forms

• extenuatingly adverb
• nonextenuating adjective
• nonextenuatingly adverb
• unextenuating adjective
• unextenuatingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of extenuating

First recorded in 1600–10; extenuat(e) + -ing ²

Example Sentences

Medicare doesn’t cover you for emergency hospital care overseas, except in certain extenuating circumstances where a foreign hospital may be closer than a U.S. one.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 13, 2026

Swansea University students can access a carers passport to help facilitate reasonable adjustments and extenuating circumstances.

From BBC • Aug. 9, 2025

“The one thing I can tell you is that everyone that’s ever worked for me has always gotten paid. Obviously, the circumstances here are a little extenuating, but yes, everybody will be paid eventually.”

From Slate • Apr. 18, 2024

In the case of James, health could be an extenuating factor.

From Los Angeles Times • May 23, 2023

“Isn’t it a pity that we didn’t meet under less extenuating circumstances?”

From "Nine Stories" by J. D. Salinger