verb, -gat⋅ed, -gat⋅ing.| 1. | to lessen in force or intensity, as wrath, grief, harshness, or pain; moderate. |
| 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. |
| 4. | to become milder; lessen in severity. |

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.