What does "extenuate" mean?
To make (something) less dense, or thinner; also, to lower the viscosity of (something).
Extenuate
/ɪkˈstɛnjʊeɪt/ adj, verb
adj, verb ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: To make (something) less dense, or thinner; also, to lower the viscosity of (something).
- Grammar: extenuate is listed as adj, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: mitigate, palliate, abate, abbreviate.
- Useful contrasts: aggravate, exacerbate, intensify.
- Usage evidence: Garlyke. It doth extenuate and cutte groſſe humours and ſlymy, diſſolueth groſſe wyndes, and healeth all the body; […] yf it be ſodden vntyll it loſeth his tarteneſſe, it ſomewhat nouryſſheth, and yet looſeth not his propertie, to extenuate groſſe humours: […]
How to use "extenuate"
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- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "extenuate" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
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- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "extenuate" in a final draft.
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Before you rely on this definition
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "extenuate" is acting as adj, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
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3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
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Definitions
Verb
- 1 To make (something) less dense, or thinner; also, to lower the viscosity of (something). formal, transitive
"Garlyke. It doth extenuate and cutte groſſe humours and ſlymy, diſſolueth groſſe wyndes, and healeth all the body; […] yf it be ſodden vntyll it loſeth his tarteneſſe, it ſomewhat nouryſſheth, and yet looſeth not his propertie, to extenuate groſſe humours: […]"
- 2 lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of wordnet
- 3 To make (someone or something) slender or thin; to emaciate, to waste. archaic, formal, transitive
"It was deemed meritorious to disfigure the body by neglect and filth, to extenuate it by fasting and watchfulness, to lacerate it with stripes, and to fret the wounds with cilices of horsehair."
- 4 To underestimate or understate the importance of (something); to underrate. archaic, formal, transitive
"The Company having novv pretty vvell ſatisfied their Thirſt, nothing remained but to pay the Reckoning, a Circumſtance often productive of much Miſchief and Diſcontent among the inferior Rank of Gentry; vvho are apt to find great Difficulty in aſſeſſing the Sum, vvith exact Regard to diſtributive Juſtice, vvhich directs, that every Man ſhall pay according to the Quantity vvhich he drinks. […] In this Controverſy, the vvhole Company ſpoke together, and every Man ſeemed vvholly bent to extenuate the Sum vvhich fell to his Share; […]"
- 5 To underestimate or understate the importance of (something); to underrate.; To diminish or seek to diminish the extent or severity of (a crime, guilt, a mistake, or something else negative) by making apologies or excuses; to palliate. archaic, formal, specifically, transitive
"to extenuate his faults to extenuate their crimes"
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 To beat or draw (a metal object, etc.) out so as to lessen the thickness. formal, obsolete, transitive
"[T]he Chinians can very cunningly beate and extenuate gold into plates and leaues."
- 7 To reduce the quality or quantity of (something); to lessen or weaken the force of (something). formal, obsolete, transitive
"Arte amplifieth or extenuateth at occaſion: the reſidue is the liberality of the pen, or the poyſon of the inke: […]"
- 8 To degrade (someone); to detract from (someone's qualities, reputation, etc.); to depreciate, to disparage. formal, obsolete, transitive
"[I]t hath beene ordinarie vvith politique men to extenuate and diſable learned men by the names of Pedantes: […]"
Adjective
- 1 Of a person: emaciated, wasted, weakened; of the body or part of it: atrophied, shrunken, withered. formal, obsolete, transitive
- 2 Of a quality or thing: lessened, weakened. formal, obsolete, transitive
"And, that ſame Maieſty, vvhich (as the Baſe / And Pedeſtal) ſupports the vvaight and grace, / Greatnes and glory of a vvell-Rul'd State, / It not extinguiſht nor extenuate, / By being parcelliz'd to a plurality / Of petty Kinglings, of a mean Equality: […]"
- 3 Reduced to poverty; impoverished. formal, obsolete, transitive
Antonyms
Example
"Garlyke. It doth extenuate and cutte groſſe humours and ſlymy, diſſolueth groſſe wyndes, and healeth all the body; […] yf it be ſodden vntyll it loſeth his tarteneſſe, it ſomewhat nouryſſheth, and yet looſeth not his propertie, to extenuate groſſe humours: […]"
Common questions
What is a synonym for "extenuate"?
Common synonyms include: mitigate, palliate, abate, abbreviate, allay, alleviate.
How do you use "extenuate" in a sentence?
Garlyke. It doth extenuate and cutte groſſe humours and ſlymy, diſſolueth groſſe wyndes, and healeth all the body; […] yf it be ſodden vntyll it loſeth his tarteneſſe, it ſomewhat nouryſſheth, and yet looſeth not his propertie, to extenuate groſſe humours: […]
How do you pronounce "extenuate"?
Pronounced /ɪkˈstɛnjʊeɪt/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English extenuat (“(medicine) made thin, emaciated”), from Latin extenuātus (“diminished, reduced, thinned”), perfect passive participle of extenuō (“to diminish, reduce, thin”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from ex- (“out-, thoroughly”) + tenuō (“to enfeeble, weaken, wear down; to lessen, reduce; to make thin”) from tenuō, itself from tenuis (“fine, slender, thin; feeble, weak”) + -ō (first conjugation-verb forming suffix) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *tenh₂- (“to extend, stretch; thin”)). Compare attenuate.
Etymology 2
From Latin extenuātus (“diminished, reduced, thinned”) (more at etymology 1), see -ate (adjective-forming suffix).