militate
/ˈmɪlɪteɪt
/verb [no object] (militate against)
(Of a fact or circumstance) be a powerful or conclusive factor in preventing: these fundamental differences will militate against the two communities coming together...
- The problem with this cheerful notion is that circumstances militate against nature in the big city.
- Have the international community played a positive role or have they in fact militated against the development plans through the so called International Development Assistance agencies?
- Of course, several circumstances militated against that happening.
Synonyms
tend to prevent, work against, resist, hinder, discourage, oppose, counter, cancel out, foil, prejudice, operate/work/go/tell against, be detrimental to, be disadvantageous to
Usage
The verbs militate and mitigate are often confused. See mitigate (usage).
Origin
Late 16th century: from Latin militat- 'served as a soldier', from the verb militare, from miles, milit- 'soldier'.
Rhymes
- picture gardens
- picturegraph
- picture hat
- picture-hatted
- picture house
- picture-in-picture
- picture language
- picture lens
- pictureless
- picture lesson
- picture-like
- picturely
- picture magazine
- picture message
- picture messaging
- picture miniature
- picture molding
- picture monitor
- picture mosaic
- picture moulding
- picture palace
- picture-perfect
- picture phone
- picture plane
- picture play