Synonyms of mitigate

mitigate

verb

ˈmi-tə-ˌgāt 

as in to alleviate

to make more bearable or less severe

this medicine should mitigate the pain until the strained muscle heals itself

Synonyms & Similar Words

• alleviate
• relieve
• help
• soothe
• ease
• soften
• allay
• assuage
• improve
• heal
• cure
• palliate
• mollify
• enhance
• remedy
• temper
• lighten
• moderate
• ameliorate
• rectify
• abate
• correct
• fix
• repair
• better
• amend
• refine
• enrich
• perfect
• reform
• mend
• emend
• meliorate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• impair
• hurt
• harm
• exacerbate
• injure
• aggravate
• intensify
• heighten
• sharpen

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

Recent Examples of mitigate

Sanitation crews are also working to clear debris and shore up burn scar areas to mitigate flood risks, Mayor Karen Bass’ office said in a statement. — Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026

Legitimate concerns about abuse can be mitigated through intelligent regulation, not by eliminating a long-standing policing tool. — Rafael A. Mangual, Washington Post, 2 Oct. 2026

Challenges abound for growers in the United States, from rising costs to unpredictable weather, and mitigating those challenges is pivotal to the sector’s survival. — Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2026

Tech companies have responded with promises to mitigate any potential harm by paying for infrastructure upgrades needed in local water and power systems. — Justine Calma, The Verge, 2 Oct. 2026

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