mitigating

Verb

mitigate (third-person singular simple present mitigates, present participle mitigating, simple past and past participle mitigated)

1. (transitive) To reduce, lessen, or decrease and thereby to make less severe or easier to bear.
   • Measures are pursuing to prevent or mitigate the usual consequences of such outrages, and with the hope of their succeeding at least to avert general hostility.1795, George Washington, Seventh State of the Union Address

   Synonyms:

   alleviate, check, diminish, ease, lighten, mollify, pacify, palliate, extenuate

2. (transitive) To downplay.
3. (intransitive, proscribed) To give force or effect toward preventing a problem.
   • We've mitigated against the chance of flooding.

   Synonyms:

   militate

See all 4 meanings of mitigate