mitigate the tension

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mitigate the tension" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing ways to reduce or alleviate stress, conflict, or anxiety in a situation. Example: "To improve team dynamics, we need to find ways to mitigate the tension during meetings."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Even fixing the border could hardly mitigate the tension.

The Economist

Has some thought been given as to how to mitigate the tension over the fact that only a few people are benefiting from the free seeds and tools?

The Guardian

One way entrepreneurs mitigate the tension in the relationship is to work with venture capitalists who may have more patience during the company-building process — because they have been through it themselves.

The New York Times

One way entrepreneurs mitigate the tension in the relationship with investors is to work with venture capitalists who may have more patience during the company-building process because they have been through it themselves.

The New York Times

Because of the bank's big role in guiding policy, Mr. Gros will have to mitigate the tension resulting from a government seeking to rapidly modernize the economy and an opposition questioning whether Brazil is bending too far in its rush to globalization.

The New York Times

Kritzman-Amir and Spijkerboer (2013) have highlighted the ways that states like Australia and Italy have attempted to mitigate the tension that comes from a nation's international law obligations and the deep desire to continue to remain sovereign.

Comparative Migration Studies

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

They have developed a number of innovative and intriguing alternatives to traditional randomized trials that seek to mitigate the inherent tension between the goals of the physician as clinician and the goals of the physician as scientific investigator.

Critical Care

Peace in Israel would mitigate the social tensions between the country's rich and poor.

The New Yorker

Balewa proved unable to mitigate the growing tensions of 1964 66, manifested by a partial boycott of the election in 1964, army unrest, and outbreaks of violence in the Western Region.

Encyclopedia Britannica

An important outcome of such a policy reform would be a substantial change in the budget allocation between Member States, which could help mitigate the budgetary tensions between the Member States.

Economic Modelling

The State Department has argued that government-to-government dialogue is the only way to reduce cross-strait tensions and mitigate the threat of armed conflict, which could involve American forces.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "mitigate the tension", consider the specific context and choose actions that directly address the source of the stress or conflict to effectively reduce its impact.

Common error

Avoid using "mitigate the tension" as a catch-all solution. Instead, identify concrete steps that will specifically address the underlying causes of the tension, such as improving communication or clarifying expectations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mitigate the tension" functions as a verb phrase, indicating an action taken to lessen or alleviate stress or conflict. As supported by Ludwig, this phrase is used to describe efforts to reduce negative impacts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "mitigate the tension" is a useful and grammatically sound expression that describes actions taken to reduce or alleviate stress, conflict, or anxiety. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is usable in written English across various contexts. While not extremely common, it appears in reputable sources like The New York Times and The Economist. To enhance your writing, consider specific actions that directly address the source of tension, and avoid overgeneralizing its application. Alternatives such as "reduce the tension", "ease the tension", and "alleviate the tension" can provide nuanced ways to express the same concept.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lessen the tension

Emphasizes a decrease in the intensity of the tension.

reduce the tension

Focuses on bringing the level of tension to a lower state.

ease the tension

Suggests making the tension more manageable or comfortable.

alleviate the tension

Highlights providing relief from the tension, making it more bearable.

soften the tension

Implies making the tension less harsh or severe.

defuse the tension

Suggests neutralizing the tension, preventing it from escalating.

diminish the tension

Focuses on making the tension smaller or less significant.

relieve the tension

Highlights providing a sense of release from the tension.

moderate the tension

Suggests keeping the tension within acceptable limits.

temper the tension

Implies balancing or adjusting the tension to a more manageable level.

FAQs

How can I use "mitigate the tension" in a sentence?

You can use "mitigate the tension" when discussing ways to reduce stress, conflict, or anxiety. For example: "To improve team dynamics, we need to find ways to "mitigate the tension" during meetings".

What are some alternatives to "mitigate the tension"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "reduce the tension", "ease the tension", or "alleviate the tension".

How does "mitigate the tension" differ from "increase the tension"?

"Mitigate the tension" means to lessen or reduce stress or conflict, while "increase the tension" means to heighten or intensify it. They are antonyms.

In what situations is it appropriate to use the phrase "mitigate the tension"?

It's appropriate to use "mitigate the tension" in situations where you are discussing steps taken or strategies employed to reduce stress, conflict, or anxiety between individuals, groups, or even nations.