English noun: extenuation | |||
1. | extenuation (communication) a partial excuse to mitigate censure; an attempt to represent an offense as less serious than it appears by showing mitigating circumstances | ||
Synonyms | mitigation | ||
Broader (hypernym) | alibi, exculpation, excuse, self-justification | ||
2. | extenuation (act) to act in such a way as to cause an offense to seem less serious | ||
Synonyms | mitigation, palliation | ||
Broader (hypernym) | decrease, diminution, reduction, step-down | ||