mitigate
5 synonyms and 8 antonyms for mitigate, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To make something less severe, harmful, or serious.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use mitigate
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Latin mitigare, "to soften or make gentle," from mitis, "mild."
Full origin of mitigate →Frequently asked questions
What does “mitigate” mean?
The word “mitigate” means to make something less severe, harmful, or serious. In plain terms, to lessen how bad something is — to soften its impact rather than eliminate it entirely.
How do you pronounce “mitigate”?
“Mitigate” is pronounced MIHT-ih-gayt (/ˈmɪt.ɪ.ɡeɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “mitigate” in a sentence?
Here is “mitigate” used in a sentence: “The new policy is designed to mitigate the effects of climate change.”
What is the opposite of “mitigate”?
The opposite of “mitigate” — its antonyms — are aggrandize, aggravate, exacerbate, incite and increase.
What part of speech is “mitigate”?
“Mitigate” is a verb.
Where does the word “mitigate” come from?
The word “mitigate” comes from Latin. From Latin mitigare, "to soften or make gentle," from mitis, "mild.".
Is “mitigate” a common word?
“Mitigate” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is the difference between mitigate and prevent?
Mitigate means to make something less severe, harmful, or serious, while prevent means to stop something from happening at all. Mitigating a risk reduces its impact, but the underlying problem may still occur in a lesser form.
Is mitigate a formal word?
Yes, mitigate is commonly used in formal, legal, scientific, and business writing, such as in phrases like 'mitigating circumstances' or 'mitigate climate change.' It is less common in casual conversation, where 'reduce' or 'ease' are more typical.
Can mitigate be used without an object?
Mitigate is typically used transitively, taking a direct object such as risk, damage, or effects, as in 'mitigate the damage.' It is rarely used intransitively in standard English.