mitigate
[ mit-i-geyt ]
/ ˈmɪt ɪˌgeɪt /
verb (used with object), mit·i·gat·ed, mit·i·gat·ing.
to lessen in force or intensity, as wrath, grief, harshness, or pain; moderate.
to make less severe: to mitigate a punishment.
to make (a person, one's state of mind, disposition, etc.) milder or more gentle; mollify; appease.
verb (used without object), mit·i·gat·ed, mit·i·gat·ing.
to become milder; lessen in severity.
Nearby words
mithridate, mithridates vi, mithridatism, mithridatize, miticide, mitigate, mitigating circumstances, mitigation, mitilíni, mitis, mitla
Origin of mitigate
1375–1425; late Middle English mitigaten < Latin mītigātus (past participle of mītigāre to calm, soften, soothe), equivalent to mīt(is) mild, soft, gentle + -ig- (combining form of agere to do, cause to do, make) + -ātus -ate1
Related forms
Can be confused
militate mitigate (see usage note at the current entry)Usage note
Mitigate, whose central meaning is “to lessen” or “to make less severe,” is sometimes confused with militate, which means “to have effect or influence; weigh on.” This mix-up often occurs in the use of the phrase mitigate against, as follows: This criticism in no way mitigates (read militates ) against your going ahead with your research. Although this use of mitigate occasionally occurs in edited writing, it is rare and is widely regarded as an error.
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for mitigate
British Dictionary definitions for mitigate
mitigate
/ (ˈmɪtɪˌɡeɪt) /
verb
to make or become less severe or harsh; moderate
Derived Forms
mitigable (ˈmɪtɪɡəbəl), adjectivemitigation, nounmitigative or mitigatory, adjectivemitigator, nounWord Origin for mitigate
C15: from Latin mītigāre, from mītis mild + agere to make
usage
Mitigate is sometimes wrongly used where militate is meant: his behaviour militates (not mitigates) against his chances of promotion
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Medicine definitions for mitigate
mitigate
[ mĭt′ĭ-gāt′ ]
v.
To moderate in force or intensity.
Related forms
mit′i•ga′tion n.The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
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