mitigate
to make less severe, harsh, or painful
Root
- mitis / mitig: mild, soft, or less severe
Other words with the mitis / mitig root
- mitigation: act of making something less severe
- unmitigated: absolute; not softened, lessened, or moderated
Mitigate makes the blow milder: the damage may remain, but the sharp edge softens.
A clear apology helped mitigate the anger but did not erase the mistake.
Mitigate is not the same as solve. It makes something milder: less harsh, less severe, easier to bear.