mitigate

[ mit-i-geyt ]
/ ˈmɪt ɪˌgeɪt /

verb (used with object), mit·i·gat·ed, mit·i·gat·ing.

to lessen in force or intensity, as wrath, grief, harshness, or pain; moderate.
to make less severe: to mitigate a punishment.
to make (a person, one's state of mind, disposition, etc.) milder or more gentle; mollify; appease.

verb (used without object), mit·i·gat·ed, mit·i·gat·ing.

to become milder; lessen in severity.

Origin of mitigate

1375–1425; late Middle English mitigaten < Latin mītigātus (past participle of mītigāre to calm, soften, soothe), equivalent to mīt(is) mild, soft, gentle + -ig- (combining form of agere to do, cause to do, make) + -ātus -ate1

usage note for mitigate

Mitigate, whose central meaning is “to lessen” or “to make less severe,” is sometimes confused with militate, which means “to have effect or influence; weigh on.” This mix-up often occurs in the use of the phrase mitigate against, as follows: This criticism in no way mitigates (read militates ) against your going ahead with your research. Although this use of mitigate occasionally occurs in edited writing, it is rare and is widely regarded as an error.

OTHER WORDS FROM mitigate

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH mitigate

militate mitigate (see usage note at the current entry)

Example sentences from the Web for mitigating

British Dictionary definitions for mitigating

mitigate
/ (ˈmɪtɪˌɡeɪt) /

verb

to make or become less severe or harsh; moderate

Derived forms of mitigate

mitigable (ˈmɪtɪɡəbəl), adjective mitigation, noun mitigative or mitigatory, adjective mitigator, noun

Word Origin for mitigate

C15: from Latin mītigāre, from mītis mild + agere to make

usage for mitigate

Mitigate is sometimes wrongly used where militate is meant: his behaviour militates (not mitigates) against his chances of promotion

Medical definitions for mitigating

mitigate
[ mĭtĭ-gāt′ ]

v.

To moderate in force or intensity.

Other words from mitigate

mit′i•gation n.