IELTS Speaking · Vocabulary
mitigate
verb/ˈmɪtɪɡeɪt/Band 9
Last updated 21 July 2026
In short
“mitigate” is a Band 9 verb that means to make something bad less severe or harmful. Below you'll find its pronunciation, natural example sentences, synonyms and antonyms, and the collocations that help you use it accurately in the IELTS Speaking test.
Meaning
To make something bad less severe or harmful.
Example sentences
Natural, spoken examples at the level an examiner rewards.
- “Planting trees can help mitigate climate change.”
- “The plan is designed to mitigate the risk of flooding.”
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms
alleviatereducelessenease
Antonyms
aggravateworsenintensify
Collocations & common phrases
Word partners that make your usage sound natural — the difference between knowing a word and using it well.
Collocations
mitigate the effectsmitigate riskmitigate climate change
Common phrases
mitigate against
How to remember it
'Mit' sounds like 'mitt' — a padded glove that softens (mitigates) a blow.
Related words
Explore more vocabulary
Frequently asked questions
What does “mitigate” mean?
To make something bad less severe or harmful.
How do you use “mitigate” in a sentence?
For example: “Planting trees can help mitigate climate change.”
What are some synonyms for “mitigate”?
Synonyms include alleviate, reduce, lessen, ease.
Is “mitigate” good vocabulary for IELTS Speaking?
Yes. It is Band 9 vocabulary, and collocations such as mitigate the effects, mitigate risk, mitigate climate change help you use it naturally. Reaching for precise, less common words like this is exactly what lifts your Lexical Resource score.
Next step
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