Aggravate, Mitigate, Militate

The widespread diffusion of nuclear weapons would make many nations able, and in some cases also create the pressure, to aggravate an on-going crisis, or even touch off a war between two other powers for the purposes of their own.” –Herman Kahn

When you aggravate a situation it means you are making it worse but in the case of mitigate, it means to make it less bad.

Some people are born aggravators, and some are born mitigators (something that mitigates, someone who mitigates).

Aggravate is a verb, and its derivatives are aggravates, aggravated, aggravating; and aggravative (adjective: note that there is also another word – aggregative), aggravatingly (adverb), aggravation and aggravators (nouns).

Aggravate means to make a situation worse, to alter something for worse; exasperate, exasperate or irritate someone, exacerbating a situation or condition, annoying or irritation someone.

Aggravated assault (compound noun) is a reckless attack against someone with an intent to injure other person seriously such as with a deadly weapon.

Diplomats are professionally trained to develop, foster and sustain friendly relations with other countries; if there was a crisis between the two countries, they are expected not to aggravate (make it worse) the situation but to mitigate it and find an amicable solution.

Mitigate means to lessen the seriousness of a case or a situation; making something less severe; to make something less bad, to make less severe, less harsh.

Few people create mitigating circumstances for themselves and their family with their acts of kindness and words of calming.

The derivatives of the verb mitigate are mitigates, mitigating, mitigates; and mitigatingly (adverb), mitigation (noun), mitigative (adjective: making sorrow or pain or ache bearable).

In Law, a mitigating circumstance may bring down the severity of charge or penalty to the defendant but may not exonerate him or her in the case.

Climate change mitigation is reducing the emission of greenhouse gases (the aggravators of climate change).

Mitigating facts is something that affects or influences someone’s case by lessening the severity of punishment, degree of blame.

Mitigatory is an adjective meaning moderating pain, bringing down sorrow and others by making them easier to bear.

Mitigant function as a noun (a lenitive, something that mitigates) and adjective (tending to mitigate).

Militate is a verb meaning to influence someone or something, bringing or effecting a change, act upon, influence; tending to prevent
United Nations strive to militate conflicts, wars, and poverty in the world.

Moreover, by working with countries, it tries to mitigate social upheavals and prevent aggravating countries from going to conflicts.

By: Kovuuri G Reddy