The meaning of EXTENUATING is tending to lessen the real or apparent seriousness of something (such as a crime, offense, or fault) : providing a partial justification or excuse for something —usually used in the phrase extenuating circumstances.

Extenuating means "making forgivable." The adjective extenuating is unusual because it's almost always used with the word circumstances; the phrase extenuating circumstances describes the specific reasons that excuse or justify someone's actions.

EXTENUATING definition: 1. causing a wrong act to be judged less seriously by giving reasons for it: 2. causing a wrong…. Learn more.

The meaning of EXTENUATE is to lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of (something, such as a fault or offense) by making partial excuses : mitigate. How to use extenuate in a sentence. Did you know?

EXTENUATE meaning: 1. to cause a wrong act to be judged less seriously by giving reasons for it: 2. to cause a wrong…. Learn more.

Definition of extenuating adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. showing reasons why a wrong or illegal act, or a bad situation, should be judged less seriously or excused. There were extenuating circumstances and the defendant did not receive a prison sentence.

If you say that there are extenuating circumstances for a bad situation or wrong action, you mean that there are reasons or factors that partly excuse it.