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

Mitigating waste could help solve the world’s energy shortage.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026

Mitigating the risks and maximizing the rewards of the new play is Harbaugh’s task now.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 5, 2024

Mitigating damage requires accurate assessments of risks, but most predictive models focus on projected sea level rise while most physical observations focus on storm surge events.

From Science Daily • Feb. 28, 2024

Mitigating for Arnold, Neil Griffin described him as a compassionate, gentle, mild-mannered and respectful nurse who committed the offences while experiencing hypomania as part of his bipolar disorder.

From BBC • Jan. 15, 2024

In May, 1821, Sir James Mackintosh introduced a bill for "Mitigating the Severity of Punishment in Certain Cases of Forgery, and Crimes connected therewith."

From Elizabeth Fry by Pitman, Mrs. E. R.

Related Words

• encouraging
• reassuring
• refreshing
• soothing