Is there a word that means 'mitigate' AND its opposite?
October 19, 2015 5:36 PM Subscribe
Is there a word that both means 'to mitigate' (i.e. reduce the effect of), and its opposite (i.e. to increase the effect of)?
I am looking at something that may in some cases mitigate (i.e. make things better), but in other cases may make things worse. Rather than call this a mitigant when in some cases it will be the exact opposite, I am looking for a word that can mean both depending on the circumstances.
I am looking at something that may in some cases mitigate (i.e. make things better), but in other cases may make things worse. Rather than call this a mitigant when in some cases it will be the exact opposite, I am looking for a word that can mean both depending on the circumstances.
(scaling) factor?
posted by andrewcooke at 5:44 PM on October 19, 2015
posted by andrewcooke at 5:44 PM on October 19, 2015
I think you want two words, not one, at least not without more context. As Sokka shot first mentions, the second word is probably "exacerbate."
You might want an intensifier, for instance, but without more contextual information it's hard for us to be a hive-mind thesaurus.
Also, if you're in a legal-ish context, you'd want "aggravate," as in "mitigating circumstances" (also "extenuating circumstances") and "aggravating circumstances."
posted by migrantology at 5:50 PM on October 19, 2015
You might want an intensifier, for instance, but without more contextual information it's hard for us to be a hive-mind thesaurus.
Also, if you're in a legal-ish context, you'd want "aggravate," as in "mitigating circumstances" (also "extenuating circumstances") and "aggravating circumstances."
posted by migrantology at 5:50 PM on October 19, 2015
How about "effect" in its transitive verb form? You can effect change positively or negatively, and sometimes it is used without "change"; i.e. you can effect a cure, a transition, a difference...
posted by danabanana at 5:57 PM on October 19, 2015
posted by danabanana at 5:57 PM on October 19, 2015
Oh, and mitigate is more along the lines of "gets in the way of the negative effects of something" than "makes better." That latter word would be, generally, "improve" or, if human interpersonal relations, "ameliorate."
posted by migrantology at 5:57 PM on October 19, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by migrantology at 5:57 PM on October 19, 2015 [4 favorites]
Best answer: Modulate might be what you want.
posted by amtho at 6:01 PM on October 19, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by amtho at 6:01 PM on October 19, 2015 [5 favorites]
make a change = catalyze, modify, adjust, adapt, alter
reduce the effect of = temper, buffer, moderate, alleviate, modulate, hinder, neutralize, guard, shield, cushion, insulate, isolate
make better = ameliorate, mollify
posted by LobsterMitten at 6:01 PM on October 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
reduce the effect of = temper, buffer, moderate, alleviate, modulate, hinder, neutralize, guard, shield, cushion, insulate, isolate
make better = ameliorate, mollify
posted by LobsterMitten at 6:01 PM on October 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
In legal terminology, they use aggravators and mitigators.
posted by mulcahy at 6:37 PM on October 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by mulcahy at 6:37 PM on October 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
Also "affect" - be sure you spell it with an initial 'a'.
posted by amtho at 7:00 PM on October 19, 2015
posted by amtho at 7:00 PM on October 19, 2015
Potentiate?
posted by Northbysomewhatcrazy at 7:20 PM on October 19, 2015
posted by Northbysomewhatcrazy at 7:20 PM on October 19, 2015
Also "affect" - be sure you spell it with an initial 'a'.
Not if if it occurs in "effect change" or as a noun, as in "cause and effect" or "has an effect on."
Affect vs. effect
On preview, I suddenly realized that you know this and you mean to use "affect," the verb, with an a, to suit the requirements of indicating change in both positive and negative directions. Sorry. But I'll leave the link there in case it's helpful.
posted by Miko at 7:29 PM on October 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
Not if if it occurs in "effect change" or as a noun, as in "cause and effect" or "has an effect on."
Affect vs. effect
On preview, I suddenly realized that you know this and you mean to use "affect," the verb, with an a, to suit the requirements of indicating change in both positive and negative directions. Sorry. But I'll leave the link there in case it's helpful.
posted by Miko at 7:29 PM on October 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
"Temper" is pretty close. On the one hand it means "mitigate", and on the other hand it can mean "to make stronger". Not quite in the sense of increasing the effect of a thing, more like making the thing itself stronger (e.g. a sword). Not too far off though.
posted by equalpants at 8:50 PM on October 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by equalpants at 8:50 PM on October 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
Assuage?
posted by Hermione Granger at 9:25 PM on October 19, 2015
posted by Hermione Granger at 9:25 PM on October 19, 2015
Catalyst
posted by EndsOfInvention at 2:06 AM on October 20, 2015
posted by EndsOfInvention at 2:06 AM on October 20, 2015
An adjuvant is a substance added to (e.g.) medicine to help or assist the base compound. It comes from the Latin ad juvare, "to help". It also forms a verb that may now be defunct: adjuvate. I suppose that if the medicine has a bad effect, the adjuvant makes it worse; similarly, if it has a good effect, that effect is increased.
posted by Joe in Australia at 2:20 AM on October 20, 2015
posted by Joe in Australia at 2:20 AM on October 20, 2015
Abrogate and amplify
posted by sciencegeek at 2:57 AM on October 20, 2015
posted by sciencegeek at 2:57 AM on October 20, 2015
Wikipedia has a list of English auto antonyms. Nothing jumps out at me as meeting your need, but maybe you'll see something there.
posted by alms at 6:08 AM on October 20, 2015
posted by alms at 6:08 AM on October 20, 2015
Best answer: Is there a word that both means 'to mitigate' (i.e. reduce the effect of), and its opposite (i.e. to increase the effect of)?
No.
That's why all of these suggestions are off the mark. They either mean only one of those things (e.g. "mitigate," "temper," and "assuage" only mean to reduce something negative; "exacerbate" and "aggravate" only mean to worsen), or aren't specific enough (e.g. "change," "affect," "alter," and "influence" are not specific to negative things), or are simply irrelevant (e.g. "sanction").
posted by John Cohen at 10:48 AM on October 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
No.
That's why all of these suggestions are off the mark. They either mean only one of those things (e.g. "mitigate," "temper," and "assuage" only mean to reduce something negative; "exacerbate" and "aggravate" only mean to worsen), or aren't specific enough (e.g. "change," "affect," "alter," and "influence" are not specific to negative things), or are simply irrelevant (e.g. "sanction").
posted by John Cohen at 10:48 AM on October 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
It would help if you would give us the context in which you wish to use this word.
posted by JimN2TAW at 3:12 PM on October 20, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by JimN2TAW at 3:12 PM on October 20, 2015 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: I think 'modulate' does what I want. Can't give more context because I'm using the word in a commercial setting.
posted by grazer at 5:35 PM on October 21, 2015
posted by grazer at 5:35 PM on October 21, 2015
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