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 market wants to see progress in mitigating the tail risks around this conflict,” he said.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

“Today, we are proactively mitigating risks before they affect the traveling public,” FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said in a statement announcing the policy change.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

Studies show that parenting plays a critical role in mediating and mitigating the impact of social media.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

The answer could lie in ease-of-use and safety, mitigating the risks of giving an agent direct access to customers’ data and devices.

From Barron's • Mar. 9, 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