mitigate
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What is the word of the day and how is it defined?
It's Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 3rd. Today's word is mitigate, spelled M-I-T-I-G-A-T-E. Mitigate is a verb. To mitigate something is to make it less severe, harmful, or painful.
How is “mitigate” used in a real‑world energy example?
Here's the word used in a sentence from Daily Energy Insider. the U.S. Department of Energy issued an emergency order to mitigate blackouts in the Carolinas as the region prepares for a period of hot weather coming up.
The meaning of mitigate is straightforward enough to make something, such as a problem, symptom, or punishment, less harsh or severe. Sometimes, however, mitigate appears where the similar-looking militate is expected –
Why do people confuse “mitigate” with “militate” and what’s the difference?
That word, which is often followed by against, means to have weight or effect, as in, your unexcused absences are likely to militate against your getting a promotion. The two words are not closely related. Mitigate comes from the Latin verb mitigare, meaning to soften, whereas militate traces to militare, meaning to engage in warfare. But confusion between the two has existed for long enough that some language experts accept mitigate against as an idiomatic alternative to militate. Even William Faulkner used mitigate in this way in his 1932 short story, Centaur in Brass, writing, it's as though there were some intangible and invisible social force that mitigates against him.
What guidance does the host give on keeping “mitigate” and “militate” distinct?
But unless you're Faulkner, it's best to keep mitigate and militate distinct. With your word of the day, I'm Peter Sokolowski. Visit Merriam-Webster.com today for definitions, wordplay, and trending word lookups.
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Chapters
4 chapters
1
What is the word of the day and how is it defined?
0:06–0:23
2
How is “mitigate” used in a real‑world energy example?
0:23–0:54
3
Why do people confuse “mitigate” with “militate” and what’s the difference?
0:54–1:44
4
What guidance does the host give on keeping “mitigate” and “militate” distinct?
1:44–2:02