mitigation

noun

mit·​i·​ga·​tion ˌmi-tə-ˈgā-shən How to pronounce mitigation (audio)
plural mitigations
Synonyms of mitigation
: the act of mitigating something or the state of being mitigated : the process or result of making something less severe, dangerous, painful, harsh, extensive, or damaging
mitigation of suffering
mitigation of punishment
There was, in sum, a period during the Cold War … when a mitigation of the Cold War, including a renegotiation of some of its most troublesome tensions, was possible or even probable.—John Lukacs

Examples of mitigation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Years before the fire, residents had completed mitigation work that removed about 60% of the trees in the area. — Karen Morfitt, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026 Another point of mitigation for Spurs is that a deal that looks like good value when it’s completed is no guarantee of success. — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026 These grants are available to states and local entities to support the mitigation, management and control of fires that threaten to become major disasters. — Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026 The harm mitigation effort makes up a tiny fraction of the Defense Department’s billions in spending. — Megan Rose, ProPublica, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mitigation

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mitigation was in the 14th century

Rhymes for mitigation

See All Rhymes for mitigation

Browse Nearby Words

mitigatedly
mitigation
mitigative
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mitigation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mitigation. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Medical Definition

mitigation

noun
mit·​i·​ga·​tion ˌmit-ə-ˈgā-shən How to pronounce mitigation (audio)
1
: the act of mitigating or state of being mitigated
the cure, prevention, or mitigation of disease—Encyclopedia Americana
2
: something that mitigates
a large number of drugs and mitigations … at the clinic—The Journal of the American Medical Association

More from Merriam-Webster on mitigation

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for mitigation

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