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
May Improve Heart Health A pescatarian diet may improve heart health through weight loss, lowering your cholesterol, or mediating inflammation. Jennifer Lefton, Verywell Health, 23 Oct. 2025 The case was mediated and later dismissed. Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 23 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mediate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mediate
Adjective
  • Here are a bunch of nuggets about UM’s offensive personnel at the halfway point.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2025
  • The relaxed pace and lack of obligations were a beneficial reset at the halfway point of the trip.
    Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Maduro's government views the development as a major security threat and has placed its armed forces on alert and appealed to the United Nations to intervene.
    MSNBC Newsweek, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
  • The incident ended when one of her top aides, Juan José Ramírez Mendoza, intervened.
    Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • In their middle-of-the-night, middle-of-the street confrontation, Lee told Chutto that his grandfather wanted to claim the land.
    Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2025
  • DeCosta has taken some notable swings before past deadlines, acquiring the likes of middle linebacker Roquan Smith, cornerback Marcus Peters and edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue.
    Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • However, the trouble starts when governments interfere and tell funds to invest too much at home, which breaks the delicate balance that fund managers have calculated between risk and reward, said Sébastien Betermier, executive director at the International Centre for Pension Management (ICPM).
    Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2025
  • And because the actuation frequencies (between 1 and 100 kilohertz) are far below those used for clinical imaging (between 1 and 20 megahertz), the two functions don’t interfere.
    Elie Dolgin, IEEE Spectrum, 29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Rerouting through intermediary countries adds 10–20 percent to transit time.
    Vitalii Savryha, Sourcing Journal, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Without intermediary markups and administrative complexities, direct-to-consumer channels can offer substantial savings.
    Ge Bai, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • But Scudero, who came into the game leading the country with 50 receptions, 845 yards receiving and eight touchdowns, was held to six catches for 25 yards and required medial attention multiple times during the loss.
    Aaron Johnson, Mercury News, 18 Oct. 2025
  • In 2016, he was forced to vacate the WWE World Heavyweight Championship after tearing his ACL, MCL, and medial meniscus, an injury that kept him out of action for seven months.
    Andrew Ravens‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The central question was where the canvassers lived during the petition drive, Wood said.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Nov. 2025
  • From the central atrium, the Grand Staircase -- a six-story ascent lined with around 60 monumental artifacts including statues, sarcophagi, columns and stelae -- culminates in a view of Giza's three famous pyramids.
    Ayat Al-Tawy, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The median annual price tag for a private bedroom in assisted living exceeded $64,000.
    Marisa Peñaloza, NPR, 2 Nov. 2025
  • Moral stain aside, does anyone think such an injection of campus-style activism into the practical business of running the world's financial capital would actually benefit the median New Yorker?
    MSNBC Newsweek, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Mediate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mediate. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.

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