Synonym Chooser

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 The study provided new insights into the mechanisms that drive harmful blooms and offered potential ways to forecast and mitigate their effects, the researchers said. City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Apr. 2025 Hippler said that there is no precedent for striking the death penalty over media coverage, and that those concerns could be mitigated through the jury selection process and expert testimony. Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 25 Apr. 2025 The goal is to reduce the amount of solar energy that reaches the Earth's surface, potentially helping to mitigate extreme heat associated with climate change. Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025 Developing comprehensive health insurance schemes can mitigate financial risks associated with medical expenses and improve healthcare accessibility.​ 3. Sylvana Quader Sinha, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mitigate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mitigate
Verb
  • But, in an effort to alleviate some of the insult to injury this task requires, reach for your pile of leftover cardboard instead.
    Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 17 Apr. 2025
  • If your solution doesn’t alleviate their pain, you'll get ignored.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The latter is more than an inconvenience for obvious reasons, followed by the tragic reality that females must relieve themselves outside in groups as a way of hopefully avoiding rape.
    John Tamny, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Summary Celery has been used throughout history as a folk medicine to relieve many ailments.
    Hannah Coakley, MSPH, RDN, Verywell Health, 21 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • This helps put big companies and small companies on a level playing field.
    Elizabeth Weise, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Diners are invited to join the chef in the kitchen, help prepare the meal and document the experience for social media.
    Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Meanwhile, aloe leaf, tocopherol, and centella asiatica help to soothe irritation.
    Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 23 Apr. 2025
  • The formula is also infused with a bio-restorative complex that repairs damage and strengthens, lupine flower peptides that deliver amino acids to the cortex to boost keratin to help damaged hair and eucalyptus oil to soothe the senses.
    Celia Shatzman, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • This shift acknowledges cannabis’s medical potential and eases some research restrictions.
    Matt Rozo, Mercury News, 28 Apr. 2025
  • The overall unemployment rate for the working-age population in cities eased slightly to 5.2% in March from a two-year high of 5.4% in February.
    Evelyn Cheng,Anniek Bao, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Mitigate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mitigate. Accessed 1 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on mitigate

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