mitigating circumstance
Guilt-reducing context
A mitigating circumstance is a fact or condition that, while not excusing wrongdoing, makes it less severe or blameworthy.
In legal contexts, mitigating circumstances can reduce sentences or penalties: The defendant's difficult childhood was presented as a mitigating circumstance.
More broadly, any factor that softens judgment of someone's actions: Her exhaustion was a mitigating circumstance for the outburst.
- heat of passionIntense temporary emotional disturbance
- crime of passionImpulsive violent act from emotion
- extenuationPartial justification for fault
- considerationCareful thought or compensation
- conditionState or stipulation
exoneration · factor · affirmative defense · exculpation · reduced sentence · lesser charge · first offense · provocation · emotional distress · self-preservation · coercion · moral culpability · palliation · aspect · justification · alleviation · duress · legal excuse
mitigating circumstanceaggravating circumstance
Condition increasing crime severity
aggravator · malice aforethought · premeditation · prior conviction · cold blood
mitigate, mitigated, mitigates, mitigation, mitigator, unmitigated, circumstance, circumstances, circumstantial