Militate vs Mitigate
militate
to work/act against
mitigate
to make less severe
How to tell them apart
militATE has an ARMY in it (like MILITary), so it works AGAINST something. mitiGATE opens a GATE to let pressure out, making things LESS severe.
Test yourself
Which word fits from context? Pick one, then reveal the answer. This is exactly how the GRE tests these pairs.
Question 1
The applicant's repeated absences and unfinished projects strongly against her promotion, convincing the panel that she was not yet ready.
Choose: militate or mitigate
Show answer
Answer: militate
negative evidence working "against" the promotion forces militate (to act against); mitigate does not take "against."
Question 2
Emergency crews distributed sandbags and pumped floodwater in an effort to the damage before the swollen river crested overnight.
Choose: militate or mitigate
Show answer
Answer: mitigate
sandbags and pumping to reduce "the damage" force mitigate (make less severe); militate does not fit reducing damage.
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