Master confusing words with ease
Attenuate vs. Extenuate
Attenuate
/əˈtenjueɪt/Examples:
The virus can attenuate its impact over time.Thin strands of metal wire attenuate sound waves effectively.Engineers found a way to attenuate the signal interference.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Extenuate
/ɪkˈstenjuˌeɪtɪŋ/Examples:
The lawyer tried to extenuate his client's actions.Don't extenuate the gravity of the situation.She attempted to extenuate the circumstances of her mistake.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Ways to tell them apart:
- Both words deal with the idea of making something less, but in different contexts.
- Extenuate is more about diminishing someone's perceived culpability or seriousness of their actions.
- Attenuate is more about reducing the strength or intensity of something physical or abstract, like a signal or a force.
- Think of extenuate when considering excuses or justifications that lessen blame.
- Use attenuate when referring to physical weakening or reduction in force.
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