Definition

Describing something that makes a situation seem less serious or more forgivable.

Example

The lawyer presented extenuatory evidence to reduce the severity of the sentence.

Conversation

I was reading that article about how some people have extenuatory reasons for their actions.

Yeah, it's interesting how context can change our perception of someone's behavior.

Right? Sometimes we judge too quickly without understanding their extenuatory circumstances.

Absolutely! It's a good reminder to be more empathetic.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Extenuatory → It is formed from "ex-" (meaning out of or from) and "tenuare" (meaning to make thin or to lessen). The word "extenuatory" refers to something that serves to lessen or mitigate a situation or condition.

Memory Tip

Think of 'making something thinner' ('tenuare') or 'less' ('ex-') — that's why extenuatory means something that lessens or mitigates.

Visually Confused Words