mitigation
1. [ noun ] to act in such a way as to cause an offense to seem less serious
Synonyms: palliation extenuation
Related terms: decrease extenuate
2. [ noun ] a partial excuse to mitigate censure; an attempt to represent an offense as less serious than it appears by showing mitigating circumstances
Synonyms: extenuation
Related terms: excuse extenuate
Similar spelling:   mitigative
  mitigate
  mitigated
  mitigatory