WordValemitigate
to make less severe or serious
In more detail
1. (verb) to make something less severe or serious
2. (verb) to reduce the seriousness of something by providing an explanation or excuse
Examples
- 1. The new air filter will mitigate the pollution problem in the city.
- 2. The defendant's lawyer argued that his difficult childhood might mitigate his crimes.
How to use mitigate
Mitigate means to make something less harmful, serious, or intense. It is commonly used in legal, environmental, and risk-management contexts. Note the distinction: mitigate refers to reducing severity, while militate (often confused) means to work against or weigh against.
Common phrases
- mitigate the damage
- mitigate risks
- mitigate climate change
- mitigate against something
- help mitigate
Synonyms
alleviate · reduce · lessen · ease · diminish
Opposites
aggravate · worsen · intensify
Word family
mitigation · mitigating · mitigated
A common mistake
Learners often confuse mitigate with militate against; mitigate means to reduce harm, while militate means to argue or weigh against something.
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