Word: mitigate (verb)

Associations

"Mitigate" means to make something less bad, less serious, or less painful. It is often used in situations where there is a problem, damage, or difficulty, and someone tries to reduce the negative effects.

Examples:

• The government took steps to mitigate the effects of the economic crisis. (Here, "mitigate" means to reduce the bad effects.)
• Using sunscreen can help mitigate the damage caused by the sun. (It means to lessen the harm.)
• The doctor gave medicine to mitigate the patient's pain. (It means to make the pain less strong.)

Synonym: "alleviate" is a common synonym. Both mean to make something better or less severe. But "mitigate" often refers to reducing negative effects in a broader or more formal way, while "alleviate" is often used for pain or suffering.

Substitution

Other words you can use instead of "mitigate" include:

• reduce
• lessen
• ease
• alleviate (especially for pain or suffering)
• soften (more informal)

Each word changes the tone slightly. For example, "reduce" is very general, while "alleviate" is more about pain or hardship.

Deconstruction

"Mitigate" comes from Latin "mitigare," which means "to soften" or "to make mild."

• Prefix: "miti-" means mild or soft.
• Root: "-gate" is from Latin "agere," meaning "to do" or "to make." So, "mitigate" literally means "to make mild" or "to soften."

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you tried to mitigate a problem or difficulty in your life?
• How would you mitigate the effects of stress during exams?
• In what situations is it important to mitigate risks or dangers?