Thesaurus: extenuate

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Definitions

1. v. t. To make thin or slender; to draw out so as to lessen the thickness.
2. v. t. To lessen; to palliate; to lessen or weaken the force of; to diminish the conception of, as crime, guilt, faults, ills, accusations, etc.; -- opposed to aggravate.
3. v. t. To lower or degrade; to detract from.
4. v. i. To become thinner; to make excuses; to advance palliating considerations.
5. a. Thin; slender.
6. v. lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of
7. 1. To make thin or slender; to draw out so as to lessen the thickness. His body behind the head becomes broad, from whence it is again extenuated all the way to the tail. Grew. 2. To lessen; to palliate; to lessen or weaken the force of; to diminish the conception of, as crime, guilt, faults, ills, accusations, etc.; -- opposed to aggravate. But fortune there extenuates the crime. Dryden. Let us extenuate, conceal, adorn the unpleasing reality. I. Taylor. 3. To lower or degrade; to detract from. [Obs.] Who can extenuate thee Milton. Syn. -- To palliate; to mitigate. See Palliate. To become thinner; to make excuses; to advance palliating considerations. Burke. Thin; slender. [Obs.] Huloet.
8. To become thinner; to make excuses; to advance palliatingconsiderations. Burke.
9. v. lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of