mitigate
Use Mitigate in a sentence
ɪˌgeɪt verb (used with object)
2.
to make less severe: to mitigate a punishment.
3.
to make (a person, one's state of mind, disposition, etc.) milder or more gentle; mollify; appease.
verb (used without object)
4.
to become milder; lessen in severity.
Origin:
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
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
Related forms
mit·i·gat·ed·ly, adverb
mit·i·ga·tion, noun
mit·i·ga·tor, noun
non·mit·i·ga·tive, adjective
non·mit·i·ga·to·ry, adjective
o·ver·mit·i·gate, verb, o·ver·mit·i·gat·ed, o·ver·mit·i·gat·ing.
un·mit·i·ga·ble, adjective
un·mit·i·ga·tive, adjective
Usage note
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.
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.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To mitigate
00:10
Mitigate
is a GRE word you need to know.
So is exonerate. Does it mean:
| to clear, as of an accusation; free from guilt or blame; exculpate: |
| n. perceptiveness; ingenuity; delicacy |
Collins
World English Dictionary
mitigate (ˈmɪtɪˌɡeɪt) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb | |
| to make or become less severe or harsh; moderate | |
| [C15: from Latin mītigāre, from mītis mild + agere to make] | |
| usage Mitigate is sometimes wrongly used where militate is meant: his behaviour militates (not mitigates) against his chances of promotion | |
| mitigable | |
| —adj | |
| miti'gation | |
| —n | |
| 'mitigative | |
| —adj | |
| 'mitigatory | |
| —adj | |
| 'mitigator | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
mitigate
early 15c., from L. mitigatus, pp. of mitigare "make mild or gentle," ultimately from mitis "gentle, soft" + root of agere "do, make, act" (see act). First element is from PIE base *mei- "soft, mild." Related: Mitigated; mitigates.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary
mitigate mit·i·gate (mĭt'ĭ-gāt')
v. mit·i·gat·ed, mit·i·gat·ing, mit·i·gates
To moderate in force or intensity.
mit'i·ga'tion n.
mit'i·ga'tive or mit'i·ga·to'ry (-gə-tôr'ē) adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Example sentences
The government has acted decisively to try to mitigate the situation.
Journalistic conventions generally mitigate against directly castigating average people for their poor choice of leaders.
The idea is that these options will mitigate privacy concerns.
One way to mitigate this problem is scheduling fewer flights at congested airports during peak times.
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