mediate 1 of 2

as in halfway
occupying a position equally distant from the ends or extremes has a black-and-white view of human nature, believing that there is no mediate state between good and evil

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

mediate

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word mediate different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of mediate are intercede, interfere, interpose, and intervene. While all these words mean "to come or go between," mediate implies intervening between hostile factions.

mediated between the parties

When could intercede be used to replace mediate?

The words intercede and mediate can be used in similar contexts, but intercede implies acting for an offender in begging mercy or forgiveness.

interceded on our behalf

When would interfere be a good substitute for mediate?

The synonyms interfere and mediate are sometimes interchangeable, but interfere implies hindering.

noise interfered with my concentration

When is it sensible to use interpose instead of mediate?

Although the words interpose and mediate have much in common, interpose often implies no more than this.

interposed herself between him and the door

When can intervene be used instead of mediate?

While the synonyms intervene and mediate are close in meaning, intervene may imply an occurring in space or time between two things or a stepping in to stop a conflict.

quarreled until the manager intervened

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of mediate
Adjective
Transfer that to the modern workplace, and Type A employees are suited to leading projects and attacking problems quickly, while Type B workers can reduce panic, mediate conflict and suggest collaborative solutions. David Morel, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025 Unlike human leaders, AI cannot interpret the moral weight of a policy decision, mediate conflict through emotional intelligence, or make judgment calls that require contextual sensitivity. Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
Verb
No matter her source, the world beyond the Dorf was always mediated, by time and human error; if the Apostles couldn’t agree on the nativity, Richie Mueller’s account of a ball python at the 4-H conference begged skepticism. Literary Hub, 19 Aug. 2025 Instead, the need to consume salt is mediated by taste and the brain’s reward pathways. Dan Samorodnitsky, Quanta Magazine, 11 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mediate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mediate
Adjective
  • Only two of Swift’s albums appear below the halfway mark on the 200-spot ranking.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
  • As Phoenix passes the halfway mark of this year’s monsoon, dramatic downpours, gusty haboobs and streaks of lightning across the sky have been mostly absent.
    Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • In an email, Ratliff said Soliman will remain detained until his trail starts, unless the Board of Immigration Appeals or a federal court intervenes in his case.
    Victoria Moorwood, Cincinnati Enquirer, 3 Sep. 2025
  • The altercation concludes when a girl intervenes, pleading for the young men to stop.
    Drake Bentley, jsonline.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • While driving - Stick to the middle lanes and stay on elevated ground.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2025
  • While on the road - Opt for the middle lanes and remain on higher ground.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In that match, Becky Lynch interfered to help her husband, Seth Rollins, defeat Lee's husband, CM Punk, to retain the World Heavyweight Championship.
    Andrew Ravens‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
  • An August 20 Federal Police report accused him and his son Eduardo of trying to interfere in the coup trial itself, including by seeking US sanctions against Brazilian officials and coordinating pressure campaigns through close allies.
    Julia Vargas Jones, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Another is by supplying electronic components to Russian weapons via intermediary trade routes.
    Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
  • This allows consumers to transfer funds quickly without extra intermediary or exchange fees.
    Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Anchoring the disparate variants of the LeBron 23 while serving as a containment system is a large panel shaped like James’ crown logo taking up the majority of the medial upper.
    Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2025
  • In fact, there’s a name for this: shin splints, or medial tibial stress syndrome in medical-speak.
    Jenny McCoy, SELF, 3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Evoking divinity and a potential abode for the kami, or sacred spirits, the colossal site-specific work spans 797 square feet across two walls in the foyer leading to The Shinto Shrine, enshrining the sun goddess, Amaterasu Oomikami, the Japanese sun goddess and a central deity in Shinto mythology.
    Natasha Gural, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
  • Global central bankers will gather in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, from Thursday to Saturday for the Fed’s annual economic symposium, which investors will monitor for hints about future monetary policy decisions.
    Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • After the accident, both vehicles collided with the median and sustained damage.
    Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 1 Sep. 2025
  • In 1991, the median age of a first-time homebuyer was 28 years old.
    Elena Moore, NPR, 31 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Mediate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mediate. Accessed 7 Sep. 2025.

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