Extenuate (verb)

1. To reduce the severity or intensity of something, especially an offense or a fault.
2. To make something less serious or severe.

Origin:

From latin extenuare, from ex- "out" + tenuis "thin, slender".

Examples:

1. The lawyer extenuated the severity of the crime by pointing out the defendant's difficult upbringing.
2. The judge extenuated the sentence because the defendant had cooperated with the police.
3. The doctor extenuated the illness by prescribing a mild treatment.
4. The teacher extenuated the mistake by giving the student a chance to redo the homework.
5. The employee extenuated the mistake by taking responsibility and offering a solution.