What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
palliate
Example
The doctor prescribed medication to palliate the patient's pain. [palliate: verb]
Example
The company tried to palliate the negative impact of their actions by making a donation to charity. [palliate: verb]
mitigate
Example
The government implemented measures to mitigate the effects of climate change. [mitigate: verb]
Example
The company took steps to mitigate the damage caused by the data breach. [mitigate: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Mitigate is more commonly used than palliate in everyday language and is more versatile in its usage. Palliate is more specific to medical contexts and has a more limited usage.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between palliate and mitigate?
Both palliate and mitigate are formal words that are typically used in professional or technical contexts, such as medicine, law, or business.