to mitigate

63 5.8

Make something less harmful or painful

verb
/ˈmɪtɪˌɡeɪt/

: mitigar

To mitigate the effects of the drought, farmers are using water conservation techniques.
mitigate the risk
mitigate the effects
mitigate the impact

All right, so to best mitigate that, structure is needed.

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Examples

And one way to help mitigate your stress is therapy.
And there are things that we can do to mitigate that climate change.
All right, so to best mitigate that, structure is needed.

Stephan Speaks
Are they going to be able to just mitigate damage?
So that could sort of mitigate the course of the disease.
But if you send this, it will mitigate the risk.

The King's Man (2021)
We can still mitigate this.

The Hard Corps (2005)
And, you know, I think you have to be responsible and mitigate the risks as much as possible.
It is possible to create systems that actually mitigate some of those risks.
We have a whole set of federal policies to manage and mitigate the undesirable consequences of new technology.

Academic text (1999)

Synonyms

to alleviate

vsto mitigate

76 5.3

To make pain, suffering, or a problem less strong

focuses on lowering harmful effects rather than easing comfort alone

to modify

vsto mitigate

66 3.5

Make something less strong or harsh

aims specifically to lower harm or negative outcomes rather than just change form

to counteract

vsto mitigate

47 4.8

To act against something to reduce its effect

focuses on lowering harm rather than fully opposing or canceling effects

to neutralize

vsto mitigate

39 5.6

To stop an action or effect by acting against it

reduces bad effects but does not always aim to fully eliminate them

to lessen

vsto mitigate

34 2.8

To make something smaller in amount or strength

reduces harm or bad effects specifically rather than just amount

to inhibit

vsto mitigate

30 5.4

Stop or make something less likely to happen

reduces negative effects after they occur rather than primarily preventing them

to abate

vsto mitigate

23 6.8

To become less strong or severe and to make something do the same

acts to reduce harmful effects rather than only weakening intensity

to ameliorate

vsto mitigate

11 8.1

To make a bad situation better

targets reducing harmful effects rather than general overall improvement

to counterbalance

vsto mitigate

9 5.1

To balance the effect of something by adding an opposite force

reduces harmful outcomes but emphasizes balance rather than simple reduction

to countervail

vsto mitigate

Formal

4 9.3

To act against something to reduce its effect

targets lowering harm but with a focus on balancing opposing forces

to palliate

vsto mitigate

Formal

8.8

Make a bad thing or its effects seem less serious without removing the cause

reduces bad effects while possibly allowing the underlying cause to remain

Antonyms

to aggravate

73 4.6

Make a problem or health condition worse

to exacerbate

69 8.0

To make a problem or feeling worse

How Much

to eliminate

NSFW

502 3.4

to alleviate

76 5.3

to reduce

∞ 1.6

to lessen

34 2.8

to mitigate

63 5.8

to relieve

166 2.3

to ease

305 2.1

Surface Forms

mitigate infinitive

mitigated past

mitigated past participle

mitigating present participle

mitigates third person singular

Morphology

mitigate = mitig + ate

The verb is built from a Latinate combining form 'mitig-' plus the verb-forming suffix '-ate'; the combining form is not a standalone English word, so learners cannot reliably infer the meaning from familiar English components.

Etymology

Mitigate comes from the old Latin verb mitigare, which meant 'to make mild' and from mitis 'mild', like making a very strong taste gentler. So to mitigate something is to soften its bad effects or make harm less severe.