extenuate

• Глагол, означающий смягчать серьёзность проступка или вины, предлагая частичные оправдания или смягчающие обстоятельства.

A verb meaning to lessen the seriousness of an offense or guilt by offering partial excuses or mitigating circumstances.

1. Lessen the seriousness ofC2formal

   To make an offense or fault seem less serious by providing excuses or partial justification.

   Смягчать

   • The lawyer tried to extenuate his client's actions by citing extreme stress.
   • Nothing can extenuate such a cruel act.
   • Her difficult childhood does not extenuate her crime, but it explains it.

   Синонимыdiminishdownplayexcusejustifyminimizemitigatemoderatepalliatequalifysoftentemperunderstate

   Антонимыaggravateexacerbateintensifymagnify