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Ameliorate vs Mitigate - What's the difference?

ameliorate | mitigate |

Mitigate is a coordinate term of ameliorate.



In transitive terms the difference between ameliorate and mitigate

is that ameliorate is to make better, to improve while mitigate is to downplay.

ameliorate

English

Verb

(ameliorat)
  • To make better, to improve.
  • They offered some compromises in an effort to ameliorate the situation.
  • * Macaulay
  • In every human being there is a wish to ameliorate his own condition.

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Antonyms

    * deteriorate * worsen

    mitigate

    English

    Verb

    (mitigat)
  • To reduce, lessen, or decrease.
  • * 1795
  • Measures are pursuing to prevent or mitigate the usual consequences of such outrages, and with the hope of their succeeding at least to avert general hostility.
  • * 1813
  • But in yielding to it the retaliation has been mitigated as much as possible, both in its extent and in its character...
  • * 1896
  • Then they tell us that vaccination will mitigate the disease that it will make it milder.
  • * 1901 — , ch 7
  • Then I discovered the brilliance of the landscape around was mitigated by blue spectacles.
  • * 1920
  • The plague had not been kind to him, yet had left him this small furry thing to mitigate his sorrow; and when one is very young, one can find great relief in the lively antics of a black kitten.
  • To downplay.
  • Synonyms

    * (to reduce or lessen) check, diminish, ease, lighten, mollify, pacify, palliate

    Antonyms

    * (to reduce or lessen) aggrandize, aggravate, exacerbate, incite, increase, intensify, irritate, worsen

    Coordinate terms

    * (l)