Synonyms: mitigation, moderation
Definition: the action of lessening in severity or intensity
Usage: the object being control or moderation of economic depressions
Similar words: decrease, diminution, reduction, step-down
Definition: the act of decreasing or reducing something
Synonyms: extenuation, mitigation, palliation
Definition: to act in such a way as to cause an offense to seem less serious
Similar words: decrease, diminution, reduction, step-down
Definition: the act of decreasing or reducing something
Synonyms: extenuation, mitigation
Definition: a partial excuse to mitigate censure; an attempt to represent an offense as less serious than it appears by showing mitigating circumstances
Similar words: alibi, self-justification, exculpation, excuse
Definition: a defense of some offensive behavior or some failure to keep a promise etc.
Usage: he kept finding excuses to stay; every day he had a new alibi for not getting a job; his transparent self-justification was unacceptable