Extenuation

n.

1.

The act of axtenuating or the state of being extenuated; the act of making thin, slender, or lean, or of palliating; diminishing, or lessening; palliation, as of a crime; mitigation, as of punishment. To listen . . . to every extenuation of what is evil. - I. Taylor.

Noun	1.	extenuation - a partial excuse to mitigate censure; an attempt to represent an offense as less serious than it appears by showing mitigating circumstances Synonyms: mitigation
	2.	extenuation - to act in such a way as to cause an offense to seem less serious Synonyms: mitigation, palliation

EXTENUATION. That which renders a crime or tort less heinous than it would be without it: it is opposed to aggravation. (q.v. )
     2. In general, extenuating circumstances go in mitigation of punishment in criminal cases, or of damages in those of a civil nature. See Aggravation; Mitigation.

alibi, exculpation, excuse, extenuate, mitigate, mitigation, palliate, self-justification