# mitigate vs motivate

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### mitigate
*verb · IPA /ˈmɪt.ɪ.ɡeɪt/ · frequency rank #14,170*
To reduce, lessen, or decrease and thereby to make less severe or easier to bear.

### motivate
*verb · IPA /ˈməʊ.tɪ.veɪt/ · frequency rank #13,020*
To provide someone with an incentive to do something; to encourage; to actuate.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mitigate-vs-motivate