Ask Me Help Desk

Ask Me Help Desk (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/forum.php)
-   Writing (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=361)
-   -   A word that means "mitigate" but about something positive (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=400516)

  • Sep 27, 2009, 11:47 PM
    taoplr
    A word that means "mitigate" but about something positive
    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
  • Sep 28, 2009, 12:46 AM
    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
  • Sep 29, 2009, 07:16 AM
    taoplr
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Bill-K View Post
    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

    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
  • Sep 30, 2009, 01:31 PM
    Bill-K
    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 ?
  • Sep 30, 2009, 04:41 PM
    Bill-K
    LOL - Q.E.D. as they say... :cool:

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

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

  • All times are GMT -7. The time now is 09:23 AM.