How to Use extenuate in a Sentence

extenuate

verb
  • Nothing extenuate, Nor set down aught in malice.
    — Stephen Humphries, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Oct. 2025
  • But these are the Browns, and there are extenuating circumstances to everything.
    — Zac Jackson, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
  • But only one home can qualify at a time, unless there are extenuating circumstances, such as relocating for a new job.
    — Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Instead of defining a person by a bad moment, step back to consider extenuating circumstances.
    — Jessica Dulong, CNN Money, 16 June 2026
  • But there were plenty of extenuating circumstances.
    — Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Loan officers may also explore why your credit score is low and consider extenuating circumstances.
    — David McMillin, CNBC, 4 Dec. 2025
  • While extenuating circumstances may arise, such exceptions should be limited and not become the standard approach to funding.
    — Alec Johnson, jsonline.com, 26 Jan. 2026
  • Several more are under elevated pressure due to extenuating circumstances, which are outlined below and unique to each coach and his campus.
    — Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 18 Aug. 2025
  • Travelers can explain any extenuating circumstances, like needing to care for a sick relative, but entry is not guaranteed.
    — Eve Chen, USA Today, 28 Nov. 2025
  • But there were extenuating circumstances.
    — Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 8 Sep. 2025
  • But, generally, only one property can be claimed, unless there are extenuating circumstances.
    — Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 30 June 2026
  • Six months later, Mak, at the time facing murder charges, was released from jail after his lawyer argued there were extenuating circumstances that made the case different from most murder prosecutions.
    — Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 4 Dec. 2025
  • Jacobson Moore is trying to get Daniel’s sentence reduced, citing extenuating circumstances.
    — Noel Murray, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025
  • One extenuating circumstance for brands such as Missoni and Etro, which has also been rumored to be for sale for years, is that the founding families are still invested in those companies and can put the brakes on any sale.
    — Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 11 Nov. 2025
  • The last four Wednesday games were necessitated by calendar quirks and unusual extenuating circumstances.
    — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 11 Mar. 2026
  • For all of the extenuating circumstances and points made in mitigation by Tudor, Juventus have taken just three points from fixtures that yielded nine in the corresponding games last season.
    — James Horncastle, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
  • The Fed declined to share whether there were extenuating circumstances that would have required Cook to designate a second primary residence two weeks after designating the first one.
    — Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2025
  • Travelers who need a passport faster can make an appointment at an in-person passport agency, which is available for those with various extenuating circumstances like having urgent travel plans abroad in the next 14 days.
    — Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 1 June 2026
  • Such stretches have previously been eliminated by the NBA, with the exception of extenuating circumstances like these.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 28 Jan. 2026
  • Citing these extenuating circumstances, Ford approached the administration late last year to request temporary tariff relief.
    — Byron Hurd, The Drive, 9 Apr. 2026
  • There are extenuating circumstances.
    — Mike Sando, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
  • Such stretches have previously been eliminated by the NBA, with the exception of extenuating circumstances.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 29 Jan. 2026
  • His 2021 gun conviction also had extenuating circumstances, his attorney argued.
    — Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 14 May 2026
  • There would be exclusions for communities facing low demand, economic distress, natural disasters and other extenuating circumstances.
    — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 4 Aug. 2025
  • Executive producer and star of the film, Danielle Brooks, stuns with her performance as a mother trying to juggle it all and offers an honest portrayal of what happens when extenuating circumstances prevent closeness and warmth within a household.
    — Dominique Fluker, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
  • Stats courtesy of Pro-Football Reference There were some extenuating circumstances, the most important being that Burrow did not previously play in the preseason.
    — Gladys Louise Tyler, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
  • During a short court appearance at a branch courthouse in Maywood, prosecutors referenced extenuating circumstances when dropping the misdemeanor cases, according to an attorney for the women, Nick Albukerk.
    — Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026
  • If there are extenuating circumstances, a government agency can request an extension and deliver records within 10 business days, and Senate Bill 107 would have increased that time period to 15 working days.
    — The Denver Post Editorial Board, Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2026
  • Typically only available under extenuating circumstances, the IRS determines your eligibility for OIC based on your assets, expenses, and income.
    — Kat Tretina, Sacbee.com, 27 Mar. 2026
  • However, there were extenuating circumstances in both games, which, when factored alongside San Antonio’s Game 3 win at Madison Square Garden and their dominance for nearly three quarters in Game 4, lend credence to the notion a bounce-back effort could well be in the cards.
    — Juan Carlos Blanco, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'extenuate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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