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

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
Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, who had been helping mediate talks, said negotiations were ongoing and making progress. Franco Ordoñez, NPR, 7 Mar. 2026 His involvement with Habitat for Humanity, and his work around the world to eradicate disease, mediate conflict and monitor elections all give testament to a godly life lived well. Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 1 Jan. 2026
Verb
There's a psychological cost if everything is mediated through AI. Jennifer Liu, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2026 Barrack has mediated direct talks between Syria and Israel in an effort to make sure that an uneasy truce is sustained, especially in southern Syria where Israeli forces continue to occupy strategic heights on Syrian soil. Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mediate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mediate
Adjective
  • The 26-year-old information technology administrator consumed a Red Bull energy drink around the film's halfway mark to stay alert.
    Alex Harring, CNBC, 25 July 2026
  • The Pirates are 9 1/2 games behind the National League Central Division leading Milwaukee Brewers – but only two games out of a playoff spot at the halfway point in the season.
    Chuck Murr, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • Van Bommel was shown a yellow card by referee Sander van der Eijk and VAR did not intervene.
    Ali Rampling, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Clancy’s supporters were divided, some holding out hope the Commonwealth’s highest court would intervene and others coming to accept what would end up being the inescapable conclusion.
    Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • The renowned actress stars alongside multihyphenate Taika Waititi in a road movie about the unlikely friendship between an elderly woman and a middle-aged man travelling from Chicago to New York to return a lost racing pigeon to its owner.
    Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 8 Sep. 2026
  • With her high heels, bright smile, and entourage of millennial assistants and executives, Terekh stands out in her factory, where throngs of middle-aged men lug drone parts, wield power tools and chain-smoke cigarettes.
    Aidan Stretch, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • When a magnetic field is applied to these wires, electron waves passing through different paths interfere, producing Aharonov-Bohm (AB) oscillations.
    Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2026
  • But if the plan was to let sleeping dogs lie, Bartiromo interfered by passing along the internal guidance.
    Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • If a signal from car A cannot reach car B directly, or if the path length is too far for an individual beam to travel, the signal must find an intermediary car or stationary sensor nearby that can pass along the message.
    IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 20 Aug. 2026
  • This can be especially relevant for companies with suppliers, contractors, or subsidiaries in Asia, Europe, and North America, where treasury operations might otherwise be dependent on overlapping banking hours and intermediary approval.
    Matthew Kayser, Ascend Agency, 10 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Reflective details liven up the Lightning McQueen look, while the car’s signature number 95 is printed on both the lateral and medial sides.
    Riley Jones, Footwear News, 8 Sep. 2026
  • The operation is a grafting procedure in which doctors take tendons from another part of the body – the forearm, hamstring, hip or knee – and replace the medial ligament in the elbow with the grafted portion.
    Kevin Dotson, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Different research teams at OpenAI oversee different metrics, and are responsible for calculating and reporting them to a central team to publish.
    Emily Forlini, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Sustaining an aging arsenal The refurbishment matters because Minuteman III remains a central part of America’s nuclear deterrent.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, median family income for the Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall metro fair market rent area was $89,800 in 2026.
    Sarah Perkel, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Like, is the median Claude user a net negative for Anthropic?
    Jack Holmes, Vanity Fair, 1 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Mediate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mediate. Accessed 9 Sep. 2026.

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