Sentence:  Because he interprets the primitive state of man as one of mere potentiality or capacity and believes that Adam and Eve were created as children , Irenaeus often seems inclined to <WSD>extenuate</WSD> their disobedience as being `` due , no doubt , to carelessness , but still wicked '' . 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of