The dictionary defines "mitigate" as: (1) To make an offense or a crime less serious or more excusable and (2) To make something less harsh, severe, or violent

Both definitions are about making something negative less negative. What is an analogous word for something positive?

Thanks!

Tao

Not sure if this helps, friend. Mathematically, something positive ALWAYS makes an equation less negative.

A 'Debit' is a negative. A 'Credit' is a positive. In accounting terms, they are self-explanatory - but the word 'Credit' seems to have a wider use in the analogous terms you seem to be searching for.

"It is to their credit that...."

"We should give them credit for...."

HTH

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bill-K

Not sure if this helps, friend. Mathematically, something positive ALWAYS makes an equation less negative.

A 'Debit' is a negative. A 'Credit' is a positive. In accounting terms, they are self-explanatory - but the word 'Credit' seems to have a wider use in the analogous terms you seem to be searching for.

"It is to their credit that...."

"We should give them credit for...."

HTH

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Thanks, Bill. That is a thoughtful answer. But I'm looking for something different.

Mitigate means to make something bad less bad. That something is negative in the sense of good or bad, not in a mathematical sense. I'm looking for a word that means "make less good" like diminish, limit, curtail, but I haven't found the exact word I want.

I appreciate your effort.

Tao

Sorry, Tao, I mis-read your question, really. I see mitigation as a positive, thus making a negative situation less negative. If what you are looking for is the opposite of mitigation, then I think we need to find 'Antonyms' for it. I Googled "What is the antonym of mitigate ?" - and I got this back:-

"Mitigate means to make the effect of something milder or less intense. Exacerbate, intensify or worsen are good antonyms for it.

So, perhaps "Exacerbation, intensification, or worsening" may be useful ?

However, it seems that you need something which makes a good situation less good - rather than a bad situation worse.

"Detract" or "detraction" spring to mind here. Any use ?

LOL - Q.E.D. as they say... :cool:

... "Sorted !!!" - as we say in these parts!!

'Twas a circuitous route - but we got there!! :D