mitigating

American  

[mit-i-gey-ting] / ˈmɪt ɪˌgeɪ tɪŋ /

Rarely mitigative

adjective

1. lessening the force, intensity, or severity of something, as punishment, danger, pain, anger, etc. (sometimes used in combination).

   The defense made only brief mention of his intellectual disability and the beatings he suffered—mitigating circumstances that could have changed the trial’s outcome.

   As a responsible bank, we take various risk-mitigating measures to protect the interests of our customers.

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noun

1. the act or fact of lessening the force, severity, etc., of something.

   Seven organizations have agreed to contribute microsatellites dedicated to the monitoring and mitigating of man-made and natural disasters.

Other Word Forms

• nonmitigative nonmitigatory
  adjective
• unmitigative
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of mitigating

First recorded in 1565–75; mitigat(e) ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. ) for the adjective; mitigat(e) ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ) for the noun

Example Sentences

The role of the sector has also been shifting - from purely being producers of food to becoming guardians of our countryside, protecting nature and mitigating climate change.

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026

“It was more than just policy work — it was mitigating current threats.”

From Salon • Apr. 22, 2026

“Governments have an essential role to play in helping maintain that lead, and in both assessing and mitigating the national security risks associated with AI models,” Anthropic says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

Long-term supply agreements are seen as favorable for memory producers, mitigating downcycle risk.

From Barron's • Apr. 6, 2026

“I don’t believe anything you tell me,” Nately replied, with a bashful mitigating smile.

From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller

Related Words

• encouraging
• reassuring
• refreshing
• soothing