mitigators
Things that lessen
Mitigators are things that make something less severe, harsh, or painful.
In law, mitigating factors—a defendant's youth, mental illness, or lack of prior offenses—may reduce sentencing.
In everyday use, mitigators soften impact: The company offered severance packages as mitigators for the layoffs.
The term appears in linguistics for words that weaken assertions: "sort of," "maybe," "I think."
Planted boundary lines
- qualifiersWords limiting scope
- softenersAgents that reduce harshness
- disclaimersStatements denying responsibility
- caveatsCautionary stipulations attached
maybe · perhaps · somewhat · slightly · arguably · possibly · sort-of · relatively
Measures preventing harm
- controlsOperates or regulates
- contingenciesPossible future events
- precautionsAdvance protective measures
- hedgesPlanted boundary lines
insurance · redundancies · backups · fail-safes · countermeasures · protections · buffers · reserves
Becoming reduced in degree
- diminutionReduction in size
- decreaseBecome or make smaller
- abatementDecrease in force
- alleviationReduction of intensity
relief · curtailment · moderation · attenuation · tempering · easing · dampening · softening
Agreement through mutual sacrifice
- concessionYielding a point
- mediationIntervention to resolve conflict
- arbitrationNon-court binding dispute resolution
- bargainingNegotiating mutually acceptable terms
settlement · agreement · reconciliation · middle-ground · trade-off · deal-making · intercession · facilitation
Act that triggers response
- duressCoercion through threats
- self-defenseProtecting oneself from harm
- necessityIndispensable requirement
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
justification · excuse · defense · clemency · leniency · culpability · plea-bargain
hedges
Planted boundary lines
- qualifiersWords limiting scope
- softenersAgents that reduce harshness
- disclaimersStatements denying responsibility
caveats · maybe · perhaps · somewhat · slightly · arguably · possibly · sort-of · relatively · apparently
safeguards
Measures preventing harm
- controlsOperates or regulates
- contingenciesPossible future events
- precautionsAdvance protective measures
hedges · insurance · redundancies · backups · fail-safes · countermeasures · protections · buffers · reserves · fallbacks
lessening
Becoming reduced in degree
- diminutionReduction in size
- decreaseBecome or make smaller
- abatementDecrease in force
alleviation · relief · curtailment · moderation · attenuation · tempering · easing · dampening · softening · buffering
compromise
Agreement through mutual sacrifice
- concessionYielding a point
- mediationIntervention to resolve conflict
- arbitrationNon-court binding dispute resolution
bargaining · settlement · agreement · reconciliation · middle-ground · trade-off · deal-making · intercession · facilitation · dialogue
provocation
Act that triggers response
- duressCoercion through threats
- self-defenseProtecting oneself from harm
- necessityIndispensable requirement
coercion · justification · excuse · defense · clemency · leniency · culpability · plea-bargain
- speech patternsspeech patterns, speech pattern, tempo, articulation, pace
- truth avoidersdeniers, avoiders, deflectors, obfuscators, gaslighters
mitigatorsintensifiers
Words that amplify meaning
amplifiers · boosters · strengtheners · maximizers · upgraders
mitigatorsaggravators
Factors increasing severity
aggravating factors · amplifiers · escalators · compounders · intensifiers