Mitigation

noun

/ˌmɪt.ɪˈɡeɪ.ʃən/

The act of reducing the severity, seriousness, or impact of a disaster or hazard through pre-emptive measures such as risk assessment, structural reinforcement, early warning systems, and policy interventions.

✍️ Usage in a UPSC answer

A credible climate strategy must balance mitigation — cutting greenhouse-gas emissions at source through renewables and afforestation — with adaptation measures that shield vulnerable coastal communities from impacts already locked in.

Synonyms

alleviationreductionlesseningeasingabatementmoderation

Antonyms

aggravationintensificationexacerbationworsening

🌱 Word Family

mitigation (n), mitigate (v), mitigating (adj), mitigatory (adj), unmitigated (adj), mitigated (adj)

🔡 Root

Latin mitigatio = softening, alleviation; mitis = gentle, soft + agere = to drive, do

📜 Etymology

From Latin mitigatio, from mitigare ("to make mild, soften, alleviate"), combining mitis ("gentle, soft") + agere ("to drive, do"); first recorded in English in the 14th century.

🧠 Memory Hook

Root mitis = "mild/soft" (as in a mild temper). To mitigate is to make a harsh situation milder — mitigation softens the blow.

📝 Seen in UPSC Question Papers

Prelims 2025 — Climate Change
Prelims 2024 — Disaster Management
Prelims 2022 — Disaster Management
Prelims 2018 — Ecology
Prelims 2017 — Disaster Management
Mains 2024 · GS3 · 10 marks — Environment and Ecology
Mains 2022 · GS3 · 10 marks — Environment and Ecology
Mains 2019 · GS3 · 15 marks — Disaster Management
Mains 2016 · GS1 · 12.5 marks — Geography

Real UPSC previous-year questions whose text uses “Mitigation” — proof this word earns its place on your list.

⚠️ Disaster Management 📖 Seen in: Institutional Framework for Disaster M...

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