The meaning of mitigate is straightforward enough: to make something—such as a problem, symptom, or punishment—less harsh or severe. Sometimes, however, mitigate appears where the similar-looking militate is expected. MITIGATE definition: to lessen in force or intensity, as wrath, grief, harshness, or pain; moderate.

Understanding the Context

See examples of mitigate used in a sentence. MITIGATE definition: 1. to make something less harmful, unpleasant, or bad: 2. to make something less harmful….

Key Insights

Learn more. Choose the verb mitigate when something lessens the unpleasantness of a situation. You can mitigate your parents' anger by telling them you were late to dinner because you were helping your elderly neighbor. To mitigate something means to make it less unpleasant, serious, or painful. ...ways of mitigating the effects of an explosion.

Final Thoughts

Definition of mitigate verb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more. to make less severe, intense, harsh, rigorous, painful, etc.; to soften; to meliorate; to alleviate; to diminish; to lessen; as, to mitigate heat or cold; to mitigate grief mitigate: To make less severe or intense; moderate or alleviate. <i>synonym</i>: <strong> relieve</strong>. 1. to lessen in force or intensity; make less severe: to mitigate the harshness of a punishment.

2. to make milder or more gentle; mollify. 3. to become milder; lessen in severity.