mitigate

USAGE SUMMARY

"mitigate" is a valid word in written English.
You can use it as a verb meaning to lessen the severity, seriousness, or painfulness of something. For example, "We hope to mitigate the impacts of the budget cuts by providing additional resources."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They can help to mitigate and potentially reverse climate change, curb unemployment and provide more nutrient-dense crops to the world.

The Guardian

As pointed out by Chris Sutton among others, in the wake of the incident the debate should surely be around how standards of refereeing can be improved – it was the referee, Steven McLean, who ducked the key decision, even if Muir was no help – and the potential for introducing technology that could mitigate errors.

The Guardian - Sport

Since then, Andy Haldane, executive director for financial stability at the Bank and an FPC member, has warned that there might be a need to mitigate the "fear factor" in the markets.

The Guardian - Business

"Analysis of the data concludes that the necessity of deficit reduction on the scale undertaken by the coalition is debatable; yet it is certainly the case the austerity agenda could have taken an alternative form – such as additional tax rises targeted on more affluent sections of society – in order to mitigate its impact on the most deprived groups.

The Guardian

— Todd Leckie (@todd_leckie) August 7, 2012 Does Jonny attempt to get a small gap on the bike coming into T2 to mitigate the penalty?

The Guardian - Sport

Living in the here and now can mitigate stress to a great degree.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The language was used in Cabinet document, according to a report by The Australian, decrying contributions to global aid funds to assist developing nations adapt to or mitigate the impact of climate change.

The Guardian

The report does list a number of management practices that can mitigate the problems, but it does not consider (or even mention) the impacts of climate change being driven by the fossil fuels flowing through the port developments.

The Guardian

Chafee may face some skepticism from voters as a former Republican, but his liberal record may mitigate some of those concerns.

The Guardian

The force has already made cuts worth more than £800m and is selling its Scotland Yard headquarters, as well as other buildings, to mitigate the need to shed jobs.

The Guardian

This is the dark side of meritocracy, and Labour should have thought far harder about it This is the dark side of meritocracy, and Labour should have thought far harder about how to mitigate it.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "mitigate" to describe actions taken to reduce the negative effects of something, especially when planning or implementing strategies. For example: "The company implemented new safety protocols to mitigate the risk of accidents."

Common error

While "mitigate" means to lessen or reduce, it doesn't imply a complete resolution. Don't use it when the situation requires a solution or complete removal of the problem. For example, it's more appropriate to say "solve the problem" rather than "mitigate the problem" if a full solution is achievable.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "mitigate" is as a transitive verb. It requires a direct object, indicating what is being lessened or reduced in severity. Ludwig AI provides numerous examples where "mitigate" is used to describe actions aimed at reducing negative impacts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Formal & Business

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "mitigate" is a verb used to describe the act of lessening the severity or impact of something negative. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage in formal contexts, particularly in news, business, and scientific domains. The phrase is commonly used to convey efforts to reduce risks or undesirable outcomes, and should not be mistaken as a synonym for "solve" or "eliminate", as it implies reduction rather than complete removal. Related phrases include "reduce the severity of", "alleviate the effects of", and "lessen the impact of", offering alternative ways to express similar concepts with nuanced differences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Reduce the severity of

This alternative specifically targets the intensity of something negative.

Soften the impact of

This alternative suggests a less forceful or harsh influence.

Lessen the impact of

This alternative focuses on reducing the effect of something, rather than directly diminishing its intensity.

Alleviate the effects of

Focuses on making the consequences of something easier to bear.

Ameliorate the situation

Focuses on improving a specific set of circumstances.

Diminish the consequences of

This phrase highlights the reduction of the results or outcomes of something.

Offset the effects of

This suggests counteracting the impact of something with an opposing force.

Weaken the effect of

Emphasizes making the influence of something less potent.

Ease the burden of

Highlights reducing the weight or pressure caused by something.

Cushion the blow of

This idiomatic phrase emphasizes softening the impact of a negative event.

FAQs

How can I use "mitigate" in a sentence?

The verb "mitigate" is used to describe the action of lessening the severity, seriousness, or painfulness of something. For example, "Planting trees can help to mitigate the effects of climate change."

What can I say instead of "mitigate"?

You can use alternatives like "reduce the severity of", "alleviate the effects of", or "lessen the impact of" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "mitigate" or "eliminate"?

"Mitigate" means to reduce the severity of something, while "eliminate" means to completely remove it. Use "mitigate" when you want to lessen the impact, and "eliminate" when you want to get rid of it entirely.

What's the difference between "mitigate" and "ameliorate"?

"Mitigate" implies reducing the negative impact of something, whereas "ameliorate" generally means to improve a situation or condition. While both suggest improvement, "mitigate" is specifically used to lessen negative effects.