mitigate
MIT-ih-gate
/ˈmɪtɪɡeɪt/
To make something less severe, serious, or painful.
It doesn't mean to eliminate a problem entirely, but to lessen its impact or intensity.
The story behind the word. Derived from 'mitis' (soft/mild) and 'agere' (to do/make). It shares a lineage with 'mild.' In ancient times, it was used to describe softening the harshness of a law or a punishment.
Word relationships
- alleviate: Alleviate is often used for physical pain or suffering; mitigate is more common for risks and environmental impacts.
- exacerbate: Exacerbate means to make a problem much worse.
Commonly confused with
- militate: Militate means to work against something; mitigate means to soften something.
Word family
- mitigation (noun): The action of reducing the severity of something.
- unmitigated (adjective): Absolute; not softened (usually used for disasters).
Collocations
- mitigate risk
- mitigate the impact
- climate mitigation
Example sentences
- "To mitigate the effects of climate change, we must rapidly transition to renewable energy sources." International climate policy goals.
Memory hook
Think of a 'Mighty Gate' that stops a flood from being too strong—it 'mitigates' the water. Making it less bad.
When not to use
Do not confuse with 'militate' (to be a powerful factor in preventing something).
Fun facts
- In legal terms, 'mitigating circumstances' are facts that don't excuse a crime but might lead to a lighter sentence.
Explore more words
mitigation, reduce, extenuation, de-escalate, assuage, palliative
Also appears in
- Leadership → Adaptability in Crisis
- Conflict → Pacification & Appeasement
- Business → Project Management
- Technology → Cybersecurity & Privacy
- Finance → Speculation & Risk Management
- Environmental Policy & Sustainability Economics → Water Scarcity & Management
- Hobbies, Crafts & Leisure → Board Games & Tabletop
- Skilled Trades & Construction → Construction Site Management
- Emergency Services & Public Safety → Disaster Relief & Humanitarian Aid
- Emergency Services & Public Safety → Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) Response
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