1. To make a mistake or wrongdoing seem less serious than it first appeared to be: To extenuate something by representing it as being less blameworthy or to make excuses for doing it.
2. To cause something; such as, a fault, offense, etc. to be less significant: Henry was not fined by the police for speeding because he had to get to the hospital as quickly as possible; so, his action extenuated or justified the reason for his driving so fast. 

Extenuate should be used about a situation that is minimized, not that of the person.

3. Etymology: from Latin extenuat-, past participle stem of extenuare, "to lessen" from ex-, "out" + tenuare, "to make thin, to diminish, to lessen"; from tenuis, "thin". © ALL rights are reserved.
© ALL rights are reserved.

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To render a crime less aggravated, heinous, or reprehensible than it would otherwise be, or to tend to palliate or to lessen its guilt.

Such circumstances may ordinarily be shown in order to reduce a punishment or damages. In contract law, unusual or extraordinary events that prevent performance within a specified time; for example, a delay resulting from a strike by workers or suppliers.