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Mitigate vs Forbid - What's the difference?

mitigate | forbid |

In lang=en terms the difference between mitigate and forbid

is that mitigate is to downplay while forbid is to oppose, hinder, or prevent, as if by an effectual command.

As verbs the difference between mitigate and forbid

is that mitigate is to reduce, lessen, or decrease while forbid is to disallow; to proscribe.

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)

    Related terms

    * mitigated * mitigating * mitigation * mitigant ----

    forbid

    English

    Verb

  • To disallow; to proscribe.
    • Smoking in the restaurant is forbidden .
  • * 1908 ,
    • the Mole recollected that animal-etiquette forbade any sort of comment on the sudden disappearance of one's friends at any moment, for any reason or no reason whatever.
  • To deny, exclude from, or warn off, by express command.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Have I not forbid her my house?
  • To oppose, hinder, or prevent, as if by an effectual command.
    • An impassable river forbids the approach of the army.
  • * Dryden
    • a blaze of glory that forbids the sight
  • (obsolete) To accurse; to blast.
  • * Shakespeare
    • He shall live a man forbid .
  • (obsolete) To defy; to challenge.

    • Usage notes

    * This is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive'' when the forbidden person is mentioned, and the ''gerund (-ing) otherwise. See . Examples: ** The management forbids employees to smoke in the office. (Active; those subject to prohibition are identified) ** Employees are forbidden to smoke in the office. (Passive; those subject to prohibition are identified) ** The management forbids smoking in the office. (Active; those subject to prohibition are not identified) ** Smoking in the office is forbidden. (Passive; those subject to prohibition are not identified)

    Synonyms

    * prohibit * disallow * ban * veto * See also

    References

    * * English irregular verbs English reporting verbs