mitigating circumstances
Blame-reducing context
Mitigating circumstances are facts that don't excuse wrongdoing but make it more understandable or less blameworthy.
In legal contexts, they may reduce a sentence or penalty: The judge considered her difficult childhood as mitigating circumstances.
Outside law, the phrase explains why someone acted badly: There were mitigating circumstances—he'd just lost his job.
- extenuatingPartially excusing wrongdoing
- excuseOffered reason for wrongdoing
- heat of passionIntense temporary emotional disturbance
- duressCoercion through threats
- provocationAct that triggers response
temporary insanity · automatism · lesser evil · sentencing guidelines · affirmative defense · coercion · under the influence · battered woman syndrome · diminished capacity · mental disorder · insanity defense · self-defense · reasonable force · legal defense · judicial discretion · capital punishment · sentencing · first offense
- sentencinglife sentence, life sentences, prison sentence, death row, consecutive sentences
- criminal defensesinsanity plea, insanity defense, legal insanity, diminished capacity, mental incapacity
mitigating circumstancesaggravating circumstances
Conditions warranting harsher punishment
aggravating factors · premeditation · malice aforethought · in cold blood · aggravation
mitigate, circumstance, circumstances, mitigation, unmitigated, mitigating, mitigated, mitigates, circumstantial