extenuated

Extenuate is a verb meaning to make something seem less serious or to mitigate the severity of a fault, crime, or offense by presenting mitigating factors. The common adjective form is extenuating, as in extenuating circumstances. The past participle extenuated exists but is uncommon and can sound awkward when referring to circumstances. Noun forms include extenuation (the act of mitigating) and extenuating circumstances (the mitigating factors themselves).

Originating from Latin extenuare, from ex- “thoroughly” plus tenuare “to thin or weaken,” ultimately from tenuis “thin.” The term has appeared in English since the early modern period and remains chiefly in legal, rhetorical, and formal contexts.

In usage, extenuate means to palliate or mitigate; extenuating circumstances are factors that justify or lessen blame and can influence sentencing or evaluation. Attenuate is a related but distinct verb meaning to reduce in force, amount, or intensity, especially in physical, technical, or statistical senses, not moral culpability.

Examples: “The defense claimed extenuating circumstances that reduced the severity of the offense.” “The judge considered the extenuating factors.” Note on usage: avoid treating extenuated as the standard past tense for modifying circumstances; prefer extenuating when describing such factors and use extenuation as the noun.