Mitigate GRE Vocabulary Flashcard
/ˈmɪt.ɪ.geɪt/ (verb)
Definition
to make something less unpleasant or harmful, soften, attenuate, take the edge off, assuage, reduce, ease, palliate, alleviate, diminish, allay, weaken, abate, temper, lessen, moderate, lighten, mollify
Example
Virtually every person facing criminal punishment wants to know the factors that might cause a judge to increase the sentence. These are called aggravating circumstances. But for every yin there’s a yang: Judges must also consider mitigating circumstances when sentencing defendants. These are facts or situations that don’t relate to the question of the defendant’s guilt, but that support leniency.
For guidance as to the factors they should consider, judges can look to statutes that list aggravating and mitigating circumstances. But the mitigating factors that a statute lists generally aren’t exclusive—judges can consider other criteria that relate to the defendant and the crime.
Source: https://www.nolo.com/
Antonyms
exacerbate, aggravate
Parts of speech
Noun: mitigation
Adjective: mitigating
Adjective: unmitigated
