MITIGATE Synonyms: 42 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'mitigate' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of mitigate are allay , alleviate , assuage , lighten , and relieve . While all these words mean "to make something less grievous," mitigate suggests a moderating or countering of the effect of something violent or painful. // the need to mitigate barbaric laws

Q: Where would 'allay' be a reasonable alternative to 'mitigate'?

The synonyms allay and mitigate are sometimes interchangeable, but allay implies an effective calming or soothing of fears or alarms. // allayed their fears

Q: When could 'alleviate' be used to replace 'mitigate'?

While in some cases nearly identical to mitigate , alleviate implies temporary or partial lessening of pain or distress. // the lotion alleviated the itching

Q: When might 'assuage' be a better fit than 'mitigate'?

While the synonyms assuage and mitigate are close in meaning, assuage implies softening or sweetening what is harsh or disagreeable. // ocean breezes assuaged the intense heat

Q: When would 'lighten' be a good substitute for 'mitigate'?

In some situations, the words lighten and mitigate are roughly equivalent. However, lighten implies reducing a burdensome or depressing weight. // good news would lighten our worries

Q: When can 'relieve' be used instead of 'mitigate'?

The words relieve and mitigate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, relieve implies a lifting of enough of a burden to make it tolerable. // took an aspirin to relieve the pain

mitigate

verb

ˈmi-tə-ˌgāt

Definition of mitigate

as in to alleviate

to make more bearable or less severe this medicine should mitigate the pain until the strained muscle heals itself

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

Some common synonyms of mitigate are allay, alleviate, assuage, lighten, and relieve. While all these words mean "to make something less grievous," mitigate suggests a moderating or countering of the effect of something violent or painful.

the need to mitigate barbaric laws

Where would allay be a reasonable alternative to mitigate?

The synonyms allay and mitigate are sometimes interchangeable, but allay implies an effective calming or soothing of fears or alarms.

allayed their fears

When could alleviate be used to replace mitigate?

While in some cases nearly identical to mitigate, alleviate implies temporary or partial lessening of pain or distress.

the lotion alleviated the itching

When might assuage be a better fit than mitigate?

While the synonyms assuage and mitigate are close in meaning, assuage implies softening or sweetening what is harsh or disagreeable.

ocean breezes assuaged the intense heat

When would lighten be a good substitute for mitigate?

In some situations, the words lighten and mitigate are roughly equivalent. However, lighten implies reducing a burdensome or depressing weight.

good news would lighten our worries

When can relieve be used instead of mitigate?

The words relieve and mitigate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, relieve implies a lifting of enough of a burden to make it tolerable.

took an aspirin to relieve the pain

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 mitigate Buying naked upside calls right now means paying a massive premium, but selling an out-of-the-money put will assist in mitigating the overall cost of this debit spread. — Jeff Kilburg, CNBC, 7 Aug. 2026 Thursday’s announcement marks a number of public steps that OpenAI has taken recently in an effort to mitigate dangerous outcomes. — Cyrus Farivar, ArsTechnica, 7 Aug. 2026 That failure also prevented the United States and its allies from stockpiling fuel to mitigate economic disruptions. — Kori Schake, Foreign Affairs, 6 Aug. 2026 Biden’s intent was to mitigate the impact of climate and environmental factors. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mitigate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mitigate

Verb

Against the odds, Afghan women have built a tenacious resistance movement, inside and outside the country, that is working to alleviate conditions and provide opportunities, however limited, for women and girls.

— Rina Amiri, Foreign Affairs, 14 Aug. 2026
Morgan Stanley’s Joseph Moore said the arrangement alleviates concerns about circular financing because third-party investors would provide most of the capital, while Nvidia would participate only to a limited extent.

— Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of alleviate

Verb

Campione supports re-prioritizing and accelerating infrastructure projects and relieving congestion on county roads, especially arterial and collector road projects, by pushing the state to replace outdated funding formulas.

— James Wilkins, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
The outbursts helped relieve some pressure, but Nakashima tightened up as the prospect of making his first Masters 1000 final neared.

— Ava Wallace, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of relieve

Verb

Adael Amador and Brett Sullivan each hit a three-run home run Sunday to help the Colorado Rockies beat the San Francisco Giants 13-7.

— CBS News, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
Those fights stretch back to the nation’s founding, when property and social standing helped determine who could become an officer in the Continental Army and Indigenous troops were afforded limited roles.

— Steven Beynon, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of help

Verb

Licorice root extract brings soothing and brightening benefits, and a nourishing blend of sunflower, sweet almond, moringa, and rice germ oils, plus shea butter, softens dry skin and seals in moisture.

— Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 15 Aug. 2026
Don’t forget to soothe your skin with pre-shave gel and aftershave balm.

— BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of soothe

Verb

The deployment of more than 1,500 soldiers to protect Michoacán’s avocado-growing region and recent arrests of people allegedly involved in extortion have eased concerns, but only partially.

— ABC News, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
The bad blood between West Ham and Sheffield United over the Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano saga has eased over the years, but the rivalry will reconvene in Yorkshire on December 4.

— Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of ease

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mithridates

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“Mitigate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mitigate. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of mitigate

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