[Vocabulary] Verb for 'making something less severe'

[undeddy]

Hello!

What is the verb you would use in the context of 'making something less severe' (e.g. economic consequences of a crisis or someone's decision) that wouldn't sound too formal?
Soften, ease?

 

[tedtmc]

mitigate, ameliorate, alleviate

Make use of the thesaurus

 

[undeddy]

Thesauras is great but I'd like to know which of those words if used wouldn't sound a bit odd either because of much formality or just because of their misuse.

 

[BobK]

You could also use 'attenuate' - which is just Latin for 'soften'; and 'alleviate' is just Latin for 'lighten'; 'ameliorate' -> 'make better'. But you're right to suspect these polysyllabic words of sounding formal.

b

 

[undeddy]

So, soften can be used when talking about abstract notions like consequences of something?

 

[tedtmc]

So, soften can be used when talking about abstract notions like consequences of something?

soften the consequences?
soften a crisis?

I would use 'mitigate'

not a teacher

 

[2006]

Hello!

What is the verb you would use in the context of 'making something less severe' (e.g. economic consequences of a crisis or someone's decision) that wouldn't sound too formal?
Soften, ease?

"lessen" is good.

 

[tedtmc]

"lessen" is good.

IMO, 'lessen the consequences' is to reduce the extent of the consequences. 'Mitigate' is a more precise word to say, 'to reduce the severity of the consequences.'

not a teacher

 

[skype2teach]

using the word reduce here is something i typically do.

EG "Scenario A would reduce the economic consequences of the recession"

Adding the word impact with soften could also be used.

EG "Scenario A would soften the impact of the economic consequences"

 

[BobK]

Lighten?

b

 

[tedtmc]

"Scenario A would soften the impact of the economic consequences"

With impact, I like to use the word "cushion".

 

[2006]

IMO, 'lessen the consequences' is to reduce the extent of the consequences. 'Mitigate' is a more precise word to say, 'to reduce the severity of the consequences.'

not a teacher

lessen the severity of the economic consequences