Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense mitigates, present participle mitigating, past tense, past participle mitigated
verb
To mitigate something means to make it less unpleasant, serious, or painful.
[formal]
...ways of mitigating the effects of an explosion. [VERB noun]
The cost of getting there is mitigated by Sydney's offer of a subsidy. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: ease, moderate, soften, check More Synonyms of mitigate
mitigate in British English
(ˈmɪtɪˌɡeɪt)
verb
to make or become less severe or harsh; moderate
▶ USAGE Mitigate is sometimes wrongly used where militate is meant: his behaviour militates (not mitigates) against his chances of promotion
Derived forms
mitigable (ˈmɪtɪɡəbəl)
adjective
mitigation (ˌmitiˈgation)
noun
mitigative (ˈmitiˌgative) or mitigatory (ˈmitiˌgatory)
adjective
mitigator (ˈmitiˌgator)
noun
Word origin
C15: from Latin mītigāre, from mītis mild + agere to make
mitigate in American English
(ˈmɪtəˌgeɪt)
verb transitive, verb intransitiveWord forms: ˈmitiˌgated or ˈmitiˌgating
1.
to make or become milder, less severe, less rigorous, or less painful; moderate
2.
to operate or work (against)
generally considered a loose or erroneous usage
SIMILAR WORDS: reˈlieve
Derived forms
mitigable (ˈmitigable) (ˈmɪtəɪgəbəl)
adjective
mitigation (ˌmitiˈgation)
noun
mitigative (ˈmitiˌgative)
adjective
mitigator (ˈmitiˌgator)
noun
mitigatory (ˈmitigaˌtory) (ˈmɪtəgəˌtɔri)
adjective
Word origin
ME mitigaten < L mitigatus, pp. of mitigare, to make mild, soft, or tender < mitis, soft (see mignon) + agere, to drive: see act1; (sense 2) < confusion with militate
Examples of 'mitigate' in a sentence
mitigate
Or did he know that all these things were in store, and only hope to do his best to mitigate their effects when they arrived?
Murray, Stephen DEATH AND TRANSFIGURATION (2002)
Two of the Heroes could not quite mitigate their practiced heroism to meet the current threat.
Tepper, Sheri S. A PLAGUE OF ANGELS (2002)
She raised her'kerchief to her nose to mitigate the stench.
Fidelis Morgan THE RIVAL QUEENS: A COUNTESS ASHBY DE LA ZOUCHE MYSTERY (2002)
In other languages
mitigate
British English: mitigate VERB
To mitigate something means to make it less unpleasant, serious, or painful.
...ways of mitigating the effects of an explosion.
American English: mitigate
Brazilian Portuguese: mitigar
Chinese: 缓解
European Spanish: mitigar
French: atténuer
German: mildern
Italian: mitigare
Japanese: 和らげる
Korean: 완화하다
European Portuguese: mitigar
Latin American Spanish: mitigar
(verb)
Definition
to make less severe or harsh
ways of mitigating the effects of an explosion
Synonyms
ease
I made her a hot water bottle to ease the pain.
moderate
They are hoping that she will be persuaded to moderate her views.
soften
He could not think how to soften the blow of what he had to tell her.
check
quiet
calm
She took a deep breath to calm her nerves.
weaken
Her opponents believe that her authority has been fatally weakened.
dull
They gave him morphine to dull the pain.
diminish
Federalism is intended to diminish the power of the central state.
temper
He had to learn to temper his enthusiasm.
blunt
Our appetite was blunted by the snacks.
soothe
He would take her in his arms and soothe her.
subdue
He forced himself to subdue and overcome his fears.
lessen
Keep immunisations up to date to lessen the risk of serious illness.
appease
Cash is on hand to appease mounting frustration.
lighten
He felt the need to lighten the atmosphere.
remit
an episode of `baby blues' which eventually remitted
allay
He did what he could to allay the children's fears.
placate
He smiled, and made a gesture intended to placate me.
abate
a government programme to abate greenhouse gas emissions
tone down
assuage
She was trying to assuage her guilt.
pacify
Is this just something to pacify the critics?
mollify
take the edge off
extenuate
tranquillize
The powerful drug is used to tranquillize patients.
palliate
Certain drugs can palliate the main symptoms.
reduce the force of
Opposites
increase,
strengthen
,
enhance
,
intensify
,
heighten
,
aggravate
,
augment
Usage note
Mitigate is sometimes wrongly used where militate is meant: his behaviour militates (not mitigates) against his chances of promotion.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of abate
Definition
to make or become less strong
a government programme to abate greenhouse gas emissions
Synonyms
reduce,
slow,
relax,
ease,
relieve,
moderate,
weaken,
dull,
diminish,
decrease,
lessen,
alleviate,
quell,
mitigate,
attenuate,
slake
in the sense of allay
Definition
to reduce (fear, doubt, or anger)
He did what he could to allay the children's fears.
Synonyms
reduce,
quiet,
relax,
ease,
calm,
smooth,
relieve,
check,
moderate,
dull,
diminish,
compose,
soften,
blunt,
soothe,
subdue,
lessen,
alleviate,
appease,
quell,
mitigate,
assuage,
pacify,
mollify
in the sense of appease
Definition
to satisfy or relieve (a feeling)
Cash is on hand to appease mounting frustration.
Synonyms
ease,
satisfy,
calm,
relieve,
diminish,
compose,
quiet,
blunt,
soothe,
subdue,
lessen,
alleviate,
lull,
quell,
allay,
mitigate,
assuage,
quench,
tranquillize
Synonyms of 'mitigate'
mitigate
Explore 'mitigate' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of assuage
Definition
to relieve (grief, pain, or thirst)
She was trying to assuage her guilt.
Synonyms
relieve,
ease,
calm,
moderate,
temper,
soothe,
lessen,
alleviate,
lighten,
allay,
mitigate,
quench,
palliate
in the sense of blunt
Our appetite was blunted by the snacks.
Synonyms
dull,
weaken,
soften,
numb,
dampen,
water down,
deaden,
take the edge off
in the sense of calm
Definition
to make or become calm
She took a deep breath to calm her nerves.
Synonyms
soothe,
settle,
quiet,
relax,
appease,
still,
allay,
assuage,
quieten
in the sense of diminish
Definition
to make or become smaller, fewer, or less
Federalism is intended to diminish the power of the central state.
Synonyms
reduce,
cut,
decrease,
lessen,
contract,
lower,
weaken,
curtail,
abate,
retrench,
disempower
in the sense of dull
They gave him morphine to dull the pain.
Synonyms
relieve,
blunt,
lessen,
moderate,
soften,
alleviate,
allay,
mitigate,
assuage,
take the edge off,
palliate
in the sense of extenuate
Synonyms
mitigate,
reduce,
qualify,
excuse,
moderate,
weaken,
diminish,
temper,
decrease,
soften,
play down,
lessen,
minimize,
make allowances for,
palliate
in the sense of lessen
Definition
to make or become less
Keep immunisations up to date to lessen the risk of serious illness.
Synonyms
reduce,
lower,
diminish,
decrease,
relax,
ease,
narrow,
moderate,
dial down,
weaken,
erode,
impair,
degrade,
minimize,
curtail,
lighten,
wind down,
abridge,
de-escalate
in the sense of lighten
Definition
to make or become more cheerful or lively
He felt the need to lighten the atmosphere.
Synonyms
ease,
relieve,
alleviate,
allay,
reduce,
facilitate,
lessen,
mitigate,
assuage
in the sense of moderate
Definition
to make or become less extreme or violent
They are hoping that she will be persuaded to moderate her views.
Synonyms
soften,
control,
calm,
temper,
regulate,
quiet,
diminish,
decrease,
curb,
restrain,
tame,
subdue,
play down,
lessen,
repress,
mitigate,
tone down,
pacify,
modulate,
soft-pedal (informal)
in the sense of pacify
Definition
to soothe or calm
Is this just something to pacify the critics?
Synonyms
calm (down),
appease,
placate,
still,
content,
quiet,
moderate,
compose,
soften,
soothe,
allay,
assuage,
make peace with,
mollify,
ameliorate,
conciliate,
propitiate,
tranquillize,
smooth someone's ruffled feathers,
clear the air with,
restore harmony to
Additional synonyms
in the sense of palliate
Definition
to lessen the severity of (pain or disease) without curing it
Certain drugs can palliate the main symptoms.
Synonyms
relieve,
relax,
ease,
moderate,
diminish,
temper,
soften,
soothe,
alleviate,
mitigate,
assuage,
mollify
in the sense of placate
Definition
to calm (someone) to stop him or her feeling angry or upset
He smiled, and made a gesture intended to placate me.
Synonyms
calm,
satisfy,
humour,
soothe,
appease,
assuage,
pacify,
mollify,
win someone over,
conciliate,
propitiate
in the sense of remit
Definition
to slacken or ease off
an episode of `baby blues' which eventually remitted
Synonyms
lessen,
diminish,
abate,
ease up,
reduce,
relax,
moderate,
weaken,
decrease,
soften,
dwindle,
alleviate,
wane,
fall away,
mitigate,
slacken
in the sense of soften
Definition
to make or become more sympathetic and less critical
He could not think how to soften the blow of what he had to tell her.
Synonyms
lessen,
moderate,
diminish,
temper,
lower,
relax,
ease,
calm,
modify,
cushion,
soothe,
subdue,
alleviate,
lighten,
quell,
muffle,
allay,
mitigate,
abate,
tone down,
assuage
in the sense of soothe
Definition
to make (a worried or angry person) calm and relaxed
He would take her in his arms and soothe her.
Synonyms
calm,
still,
quiet,
hush,
settle,
calm down,
appease,
lull,
mitigate,
pacify,
mollify,
smooth down,
tranquillize
in the sense of subdue
Definition
to make (feelings, colour, or lighting) less intense
He forced himself to subdue and overcome his fears.
Synonyms
moderate,
control,
check,
suppress,
soften,
repress,
mellow,
tone down,
quieten down
in the sense of temper
Definition
to modify so as to make less extreme or more acceptable
He had to learn to temper his enthusiasm.
Synonyms
moderate,
restrain,
tone down,
calm,
soften,
soothe,
lessen,
allay,
mitigate,
abate,
assuage,
mollify,
soft-pedal (informal),
palliate,
admix
in the sense of tranquillize
Definition
to give (someone) a drug to make them calm or calmer
The powerful drug is used to tranquillize patients.
Synonyms
calm,
sedate,
knock out,
lull,
drug,
quiet,
relax,
compose,
soothe,
quell,
pacify,
stupefy,
settle your nerves
in the sense of weaken
Definition
to become or make weak or weaker
Her opponents believe that her authority has been fatally weakened.