|  extenuation 
 
 1. a partial excuse to mitigate censure;
 an attempt to represent an offense as less serious than it appears by showing mitigating circumstances
 • Syn:
 mitigation
 • Derivationally related forms:
 mitigate (for: mitigation), extenuate
 • Hypernyms:
 excuse, alibi, exculpation, self-justification
 2. to act in such a way as to cause an offense to seem less serious
 • Syn:
 mitigation, palliation
 • Derivationally related forms:
 palliate (for: palliation), mitigate (for: mitigation), extenuate
 • Hypernyms:
 decrease, diminution, reduction, step-down
 
 
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