mitigate

[ mit-i-geyt ]

See synonyms for: mitigate mitigated mitigating mitigation on Thesaurus.com

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 reduce the risk or impact of harmful conditions or events: To mitigate flood damage, new building regulations are being developed.
to make (a person, one's state of mind, disposition, etc.) milder or more gentle; mollify; appease.
Environmental Science. to restore or recreate (a habitat) in order to make up for losses due to development or agriculture: No one has tried anything on this scale before to mitigate the grasslands bird habitat.

verb (used without object),mit·i·gat·ed, mit·i·gat·ing.

to become milder; lessen in severity.

Origin of mitigate

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English mitigaten, from 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 verb suffix; see -ate¹

confusables note For mitigate

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.

Other words from mitigate

mit·i·ga·ble [mit-i-guh-buhl], /ˈmɪt ɪ gə bəl/, adjective
mit·i·ga·tion [mit-i-gey-shuhn], /ˌmɪt ɪˈgeɪ ʃən/, noun
mit·i·ga·tor, noun
o·ver·mit·i·gate, verb, o·ver·mit·i·gat·ed, o·ver·mit·i·gat·ing.
un·mit·i·ga·ble, adjective

Words that may be confused with mitigate

militate, mitigate (see confusables note at the current entry)

Words Nearby mitigate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use mitigate in a sentence

For, in mitigating the symptoms of mental illness, we also work to mitigate the stigma against it.
How colonialism and capitalism helped place a stigma on mental illness | Balaji Ravichandran | February 12, 2021 | Washington Post
Albanese says, the most effective method for mitigating bird strikes was shooting birds that presented an immediate danger to aircraft.
Four wild animals that are thriving in cities | By Ryan Chelius/Outdoor Life | February 9, 2021 | Popular-Science
In short, using advanced data analytics we can better assess, price and significantly mitigate risk.
Twinco Capital scores €3M for its supply chain finance solution | Steve O'Hear | February 5, 2021 | TechCrunch
For example, it could be equipped with shock-mitigating seats, a hard top, a crash engine rail, lights, cameras, and so on.
This fast French military boat can crawl from water to land without wheels | Christina Mackenzie | February 3, 2021 | Popular-Science
With that information, the team can mitigate the risk of overtraining and can better help its athletes recover from injuries.
As biometrics boom, who owns athletes’ data? It depends on the sport. | Nick Busca | February 2, 2021 | Washington Post

But the military can mitigate the risks simply by virtue of its enormous logistical reach.
The Military’s Mission to Fight Ebola Might Be Dangerous But it Won’t Be Black Hawk Down | Nathan Bradley Bethea | September 19, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Of course, cities can take steps right away to mitigate the damage done by militarizing law enforcement.
What’s Next, Police With Tanks? | James Poulos | June 28, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
The deafening klaxons can leave one feeling helpless, but there are still steps you can take to mitigate the damage.
How to Mitigate the Damage of the Heartbleed Security Hole | Joshua Kopstein | April 11, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Yes, you can do a lot to mitigate this by providing mentors, training, college prep, and other services.
The Flaw in My Brother’s Keeper | Jamelle Bouie | February 28, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
There are lots of things, including changing the kind of inner dialog, that can mitigate anxiety.
A Q&A with Scott Stossel, Author of ‘My Age of Anxiety: Fear, Hope, Dread, and the Search for Peace of Mind’ | Jesse Singal | February 20, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
If she have a tongue that can cure, and likewise mitigate and shew mercy: her husband is not like other men.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version | Various
And there being constant danger of excess, the effort ought to be by force of public opinion to mitigate and assuage it.
Key-Notes of American Liberty | Various
No sense of her goodness, her injury and nobility, and the enormous generosity of her forgiveness, sufficed to mitigate that.
The New Machiavelli | Herbert George Wells
Rendered furious by this insolence, I forbade him my sight; and, without seeking to mitigate my anger, he departed for France.
The Mysterious Wanderer, Vol. III | Sophia Reeve
It remains the right term and your simplicity doesn't mitigate it.
The Tragic Muse | Henry James

British Dictionary definitions for mitigate

mitigate

/ (ˈmɪtɪˌɡeɪt) /

verb

to make or become less severe or harsh; moderate

Origin of mitigate

C15: from Latin mītigāre, from mītis mild + agere to make

usage For mitigate

Mitigate is sometimes wrongly used where militate is meant: his behaviour militates (not mitigates) against his chances of promotion

Derived forms of mitigate

mitigable (ˈmɪtɪɡəbəl), adjective
mitigation, noun
mitigative or mitigatory, adjective
mitigator, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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