# mitigate

/ˈmɪtəˌɡeɪt/ (US) · /mˈɪtɪɡˌeɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mitigate
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to make less severe

verb · CEFR B2 · Formal · Academic

to make a bad situation, a problem, or a feeling less harmful or painful.

For teachers: to lessen the severity, intensity, or impact of something unpleasant or harmful. Transitive — requires a direct object such as 'risk', 'damage', or 'effects'.

- The government is taking steps to mitigate the effects of the rising cost of living.
- Engineers implemented several structural reinforcements to mitigate the risk of collapse during a major seismic event.

Usage: Commonly used in professional and academic contexts regarding risk management or environmental impact.

Teaching tip: Learners often confuse 'mitigate' with 'militate'. Remind them that 'mitigate' means to soften a blow, while 'militate against' means to work against something.

## Examples

- Wearing a helmet helps mitigate head injuries.
- The company introduced new safety rules to mitigate the risk of workplace accidents.
- Central banks often raise interest rates to mitigate inflation, though this policy can simultaneously slow economic growth and increase unemployment.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.