unmitigated
Americanadjective
-
not mitigated; not softened or lessened.
unmitigated suffering.
- Synonyms:
- persistent, unbroken, unabated, unrelieved
-
unqualified or absolute.
an unmitigated bore.
adjective
-
not diminished in intensity, severity, etc
-
(prenominal) (intensifier)
an unmitigated disaster
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of unmitigated
First recorded in 1590–1600; un- 1 + mitigate ( def. ) + -ed 2 ( def. )
Explanation
The adjective unmitigated describes something that is undiminished, unqualified, or absolute. If your new recipe for chocolate cupcakes is met by enthusiastic cheers, you can assume you have an unmitigated success on your hands. Unmitigated comes from the Latin roots un-, meaning "not," and mitigare, meaning "made mild, soft, or gentle." Although unmitigated can be used positively, as in "unmitigated success," the word is often framed in a negative light: the outdoor concert was an unmitigated disaster due to torrential rains and the fact that the band never even showed up.
Vocabulary lists containing unmitigated
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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To Kill a Mockingbird
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
During the run-up to the World Cup, fears over prohibitive ticket prices, chaotic transportation and restrictive immigration policies suggested the whole thing might turn into an unmitigated disaster.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 18, 2026
She described Lord Mandelson's appointment as an "unmitigated disaster for the country" and called for measures to ensure an "open and transparent process" in the future.
From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026
“In the absence of official oversight and enforcement, unmitigated expansion of the fireworks businesses operating at the site in Esparto led directly to death and destruction.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 11, 2026
That means the dollar has gone from an unmitigated positive for international investors to yet another risk that must be hedged — and many expect the buck will continue to weaken for the foreseeable future.
From MarketWatch ● Feb. 18, 2026
The horseless carriage was just arriving in San Francisco, and its debut was turning into one of those colorfully unmitigated disasters that bring misery to everyone but historians.
From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
