noun extenuation
verb to make (guilt or an offense) seem less serious or more forgivable
Historians may use the term to describe attempts to lessen the significance of certain events or actions in the past.
In legal contexts, to extenuate means to provide excuses or justifications for a crime or wrongdoing, in order to lessen the severity of the punishment.
To extenuate symptoms means to lessen their severity or impact, often through treatment or medication.
In PR, to extenuate a situation means to downplay negative aspects or mitigate damage to a company's reputation.
Writers may use 'extenuate' in their writing to describe the act of making a situation seem less serious or severe.
Psychologists may use 'extenuate' when discussing how individuals may try to downplay their own actions or behavior in therapy sessions.
Lawyers may use 'extenuate' in legal contexts when arguing that certain factors should lessen the severity of a client's actions or the punishment they receive.
Politicians may use 'extenuate' when addressing the public to explain or justify their actions in a way that makes them seem less harmful or offensive.