Extenuate

Quick meaning: Extenuate is a verb meaning To make (something) less dense, or thinner; also, to lower the viscosity of (something).

Meaning

To make (something) less dense, or thinner; also, to lower the viscosity of (something).

More Meanings

1. To make (someone or something) slender or thin; to emaciate, to waste.
2. To underestimate or understate the importance of (something); to underrate.
3. To beat or draw (a metal object, etc.) out so as to lessen the thickness.
4. To reduce the quality or quantity of (something); to lessen or weaken the force of (something).
5. To degrade (someone); to detract from (someone's qualities, reputation, etc.); to depreciate, to disparage.
6. Of a person: emaciated, wasted, weakened; of the body or part of it: atrophied, shrunken, withered.
7. Of a quality or thing: lessened, weakened.

Example Sentences

Applied it [the fat of a bull calf] extenuateth the eyebrovvs: Plin[y the Elder].

He the congealed vapors melts againe; / Extenuated into drops of Raine: / VVhich on the thirſtie Earth in ſhovvers diſtill; / And all that life poſſeſſe vvith plenty fill.

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.

Mamma's reception of her, just off the long winter journey, and extenuated with fatigues and sickly chagrins, was of the most cutting cruelty: "What do you want here? What is a medicant like you come hither for?"

Word Forms

• extenuates
• extenuating
• extenuated
• extenuatest
• extenuatedst
• extenuateth

Synonyms for extenuate

Depending on context, synonyms include mitigate, palliate.

Antonyms for extenuate

Common opposites include aggravate.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include mitigate, palliate, emaciate, weakened, wasting, shrunk.

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