# mitigated

/ˈmɪtəˌɡeɪtɪd/ (US) · /mˈɪtɪɡˌeɪtɪd/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mitigated
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

to make a bad situation less serious or painful. You use this when you want to say that something has reduced the negative effects of a problem.

For teachers: to reduce the severity, seriousness, or painfulness of something. Often used in legal or formal contexts to describe how evidence or actions lessen the impact of a crime or a negative outcome.

## Examples

- The rain mitigated the heat of the summer.
- The defendant's sincere apology mitigated the severity of the sentence the judge was considering.
- While the initial shock of the merger was significant, the subsequent restructuring efforts mitigated the risk of a total collapse in the company's market share.

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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.