Synonyms of extenuating

extenuating

verb

present participle of extenuate

as in excusing

to make (something) seem less bad by offering excuses

don't even try to extenuate their vandalism of the cemetery with the old refrain of "Boys will be boys"

Synonyms & Similar Words

• excusing
• justifying
• explaining
• palliating
• whitewashing
• deodorizing
• glossing (over)
• explaining away
• minimizing
• mitigating
• glozing (over)
• atoning
• rationalizing
• confessing
• apologizing
• alleviating
• accounting (for)
• varnishing
• lessening
• sugarcoating
• softening
• exculpating
• tempering
• moderating
• lightening
• exonerating
• easing
• playing down
• vindicating
• absolving
• acquitting
• soft-pedaling
• clearing