Vocabulary in context
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Mitigate
To make something less severe, harmful, or harsh; to alleviate or reduce the impact of an adverse condition.
verb💡
Imagine This
We tied an old baseball mitt on the gate's barbed wire so that it made injury less severe.
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Sounds Like
MIT-uh-geyt
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Looks Like
MIT + I + GATE (visual breakdown of the word into components)
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Remember This
Mitigate is commonly used in risk, legal, medical, and policy contexts to reduce potential harm.
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Other Forms
mitigationnoun
mitigatedadjective
mitigatingverb
mitigatesverb
mitigatornoun
mitigativeadjective
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Connect With
alleviate, lessen, ease, palliate, ameliorate
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Note
Do not confuse with 'emigrate' or 'militate.' Mitigate means to lessen or reduce, not to move away or to advocate force. In writing, pair with nouns like risk, damage, or pain.
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Study Deeper
Examples
- The city implemented flood defenses to mitigate damage from heavy rains.
- The new safety protocols are designed to mitigate potential injuries in the workplace.
Synonyms
alleviatereducelessendiminishameliorate
Antonyms
exacerbateaggravateintensify
Etymology
From Latin mitigare 'to soften', from mitis 'mild, gentle'.
Mnemonic
MITIGATE: Mild It, Gate It — remember that the word means to make something milder and to gate or limit its impact.
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Coalition
nounA union or combination of groups or parties for a common purpose; a temporary alliance.
Steadfast
adjectiveFixed in position or purpose; unwavering and loyal, showing firm determination and reliability.
Dissent
nounA public or formal expression of disagreement with a policy, decision, or widely held view.
Similar Words
Related words and words with the same part of speech.
Palliate
verbTo lessen the severity of symptoms or pain, especially without curing the underlying condition; to gloss over or disguise the seriousness of something.
Ameliorate
verbTo make or become better
Abandon
verbTo give up completely, to desert or leave behind, or to relinquish a claim, plan, or responsibility.
Abate
verbTo decrease in amount or intensity; to reduce or end something.
Abolish
verbTo formally end or repeal a system, practice, or institution; to officially put an end to something established.
Abridge
verbTo shorten (a text, speech, or other work) by omitting parts; to condense.
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