mediate 1 of 2

Definition of mediatenext
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

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
The money covers a range of expenses, including staff that help homeless people find housing and mediate conflicts between new roommates. Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Aug. 2025 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
Verb
Successfully mediating such peace talks would be a diplomatic coup and go some way toward helping the nation's desire to be seen as a global player. Imtiaz Tyab, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026 After 21 hours of overnight closed-door negotiations with Iran, mediated by Pakistan, the vice president emerged to say that the parties had failed to reach an agreement, saying Iran was unwilling to make a firm commitment on not seeking nuclear weapons. ABC News, 12 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mediate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mediate
Adjective
  • Shortly after the halfway mark, the movie morphs into something closer to an unofficial three-hander.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 14 Apr. 2026
  • As the crew made it to the halfway point between the Earth and the moon, NASA shared an update at midnight on April 4.
    Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Robinson shoved Daniels backward, and Bradley intervened before the dispute could escalate further.
    Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026
  • In the intervening months, Hollywood had suffered an actors’ strike, a writers’ strike, a spiraling production exodus and a content contraction precipitated by the economics of streaming and the rise of creators on media platforms like YouTube and TikTok.
    Nick Morton, HollywoodReporter, 20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Their exchanges take place in a conversational middle range that puts their emotional substance—bewilderment, frustration, anger, quiet despair—into sharp and poignant contrast.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026
  • Accepts middle and high school-age children only.
    Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Hardly surprising when the average American citizen is being fiscally mugged by the consequences of double standards that have long been at play, with Israeli entities not only exempt from registering as foreign agents, but exceptionally blessed to freely interfere in American political life.
    Rachel Marsden, Hartford Courant, 17 Apr. 2026
  • Then in August, the administration dismantled the Foreign Malign Influence Center, a branch of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence that had stymied efforts by Russia, China and Iran to interfere in the 2024 election.
    Doug Bock Clark, ProPublica, 13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The president has previously confirmed that Vice President JD Vance, US special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner are speaking with intermediary countries about the Iran war.
    Kevin Liptak, CNN Money, 6 Apr. 2026
  • In the past few 12 months, Zamarripa’s firm brokered the highest NWSL contract at the time, for Seattle Reign forward Mia Fishel, and provided intermediary services, alongside Ovalle’s representatives 235 Sports Management, for that historic transfer to Orlando.
    Asli Pelit, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The victim was injured but refused medial attention.
    Elyssa Kaufman, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2026
  • As the Transit officers descended down to the 4/5/6 platform, one of Griffin’s victims came staggering up the stairs, seeking medial attention, Tisch said.
    Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Russian strikes hit more than a half-dozen areas of Ukraine behind the front line from Tuesday to Wednesday, killing an 8-year-old boy in the central Cherkasy region and a woman who was in a kiosk near a bus stop that was hit in southern Zaporizhzhia, according to Zelenskyy and local officials.
    ABC News, ABC News, 15 Apr. 2026
  • This will be Powell’s last meeting with central bankers as Kevin Warsh is set to take over as Federal Reserve chair next month.
    Diane Brady, Fortune, 14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The median age of a first-time buyer is now 40—a number that would have been almost unthinkable a generation ago.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2026
  • With a population of 29 million, Cameroon is an overwhelmingly young country, where the median age is 18.
    Nicole Winfield, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Mediate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mediate. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.

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