extenuate

他试图用童年经历来减轻自己错误行为的严重性。

He tried to ___extenuate his wrongdoing by citing his difficult childhood.

辩方主张被告未经治疗的精神疾病应减轻其罪责。

The defense argued that the defendant's untreated mental illness should ___extenuate his culpability.

再多道歉也无法减轻已经发生的背信行为的严重性。

No amount of apology can ___extenuate the breach of trust that occurred.