lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of
Example:
The circumstances extenuate the crime
source: wordnet30
2
make less severe or harsh
Example:
mitigating circumstances
source: wordnet30
3
To make less severe, intense, harsh, rigorous, painful, etc.; to soften; to meliorate; to alleviate; to diminish; to lessen; as, to mitigate heat or cold; to mitigate grief.
