mitigating

[ mit-i-gey-ting ]

adjective

1. lessening the force, intensity, or severity of something, as punishment, danger, pain, anger, etc. (sometimes used in combination):

   The defense made only brief mention of his intellectual disability and the beatings he suffered—mitigating circumstances that could have changed the trial’s outcome.

   As a responsible bank, we take various risk-mitigating measures to protect the interests of our customers.

noun

1. the act or fact of lessening the force, severity, etc., of something:

   Seven organizations have agreed to contribute microsatellites dedicated to the monitoring and mitigating of man-made and natural disasters.

Other Words From

• non·mit·i·ga·tive, non·mit·i·ga·to·ry adjective
• un·mit·i·ga·tive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of mitigating¹

First recorded in 1565–75; mitigat(e) ( def ) + -ing ²( def ) for the adjective; mitigat(e) ( def ) + -ing ¹( def ) for the noun

Example Sentences

The FDA’s EUA program allows therapeutics companies to seek early approval when mitigating circumstances are met, as is the case with the current pandemic.

From TechCrunch

Supervisor Nathan Fletcher was the sole “no” vote, and expressed concern over the county’s use of carbon offsets to mitigate the project’s environmental impact and ongoing issues with the county’s Climate Action Plan.

From Voice of San Diego

Agrawal discusses some of the measures the company has taken to fight back, while admitting Twitter is trying to thread a needle of mitigating harm caused by false content without becoming an arbiter of truth.

From MIT Technology Review

Now more than ever, a united front is building in an effort to mitigate the unconscionable and unacceptable disparities in health among certain segments of the population.

From Fortune

To me, being outdoors mitigates most of the risk of coronavirus transmission, yet as the day approaches I am having second thoughts.

From MIT Technology Review

It is tasked with mitigating environmental destruction brought on by three and a half decades of torrid growth.

From The Daily Beast

The defense strategy at trial was as much about mitigating as acquitting.

From The Daily Beast

Naturally, mitigating the financial burden of raising children would make it easier to decide to have more of them.

From The Daily Beast

The one mitigating circumstance I can offer the mute court of existence is that I am only tuned in (and turned off) 24-six.

From The Daily Beast

Mitigating the threat posed by transferred detainees is an inherently difficult proposition.

From The Daily Beast

If a fair trial is to be allowed there are mitigating circumstances to be urged.

From Project Gutenberg

Among the mitigating circumstances I should be inclined to name even those which you bring in aggravation.

From Project Gutenberg

Later it was in somewhat general use internally for mitigating the pains of colic.

From Project Gutenberg

That would be a cool proposition, I am aware, but for certain mitigating circumstances which I hasten to mention.

From Project Gutenberg

Nothing that we know of can prevent them, though many means are known of mitigating their severity.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• encouraging
• reassuring
• refreshing
• soothing