extenuate

Từ điển American Heritage Dictionary 4th

ex·ten·u·ate (ĭk-stĕnʹyo͞o-āt')tr.v. ex·ten·u·at·ed, ex·ten·u·at·ing, ex·ten·u·ates
1. To lessen or attempt to lessen the magnitude or seriousness of, especially by providing partial excuses. See Synonyms at palliate.
2. Archaic.
a. To make thin or emaciated.
b. To reduce the strength of.
3. Obsolete. To belittle; disparage. [Latin extenuāre, extenuāt- : ex-, ex- + tenuāre, to make thin (from tenuis, thin. See ten- in Indo-European Roots).] ex·tenʹu·a'tive adj. & n.ex·tenʹu·a'tor n.ex·tenʹu·a·to'ry (-ə-tôr'ē, -tōr'ē) adj.

• Từ đồng nghĩa / Synonyms:
  palliate, mitigate