Atenuante

An 'atenuante' (from the Spanish/Portuguese 'atenuante') refers to a mitigating circumstance or a factor that lessens the severity of a crime, offense, or situation. It serves to soften or reduce blame, guilt, or punishment. It often involves elements that demonstrate a lack of malicious intent, previous good character, or external pressures that influenced the act. Understanding atenuantes is crucial in legal contexts, ethics, and everyday interpersonal interactions to provide a fairer assessment and response to challenging events. It is a factor that diminishes or weakens the force of something, often an accusation or adverse outcome.

Atenuante meaning with examples

• The defense attorney presented the defendant's history of mental illness as an 'atenuante', arguing that it significantly impacted his judgment and reduced his culpability for the crime. This information, which the judge took into account, helped to lessen the sentencing received.
• In the heated debate, the mediator pointed out the defendant's prior good record, including a history of community service and philanthropic actions as 'atenuantes' to support that they were capable of a better decision. The mediator believed that this information served to temper the harshness of criticism against them.
• While acknowledging the company's environmental violation, the regulator considered their immediate cooperation with the investigation, their voluntary clean-up efforts, and previous lack of offenses as 'atenuantes', reducing the fine imposed for the infraction.
• After a series of accidents caused by faulty equipment, the company presented the fact that all previous models were checked and properly certified as an 'atenuante', claiming the current series had unknown defects. The defense lessened the reputational damage.