What does it mean to "mitigate"?

To "mitigate" means to make something less severe, serious, or painful. In various contexts, such as environmental science or law, mitigation involves taking steps to reduce the negative impact or severity of something, like pollution or legal penalties. This term is often used to describe measures taken to lessen the intensity or harshness of a problem. For example, when discussing climate change, mitigation could refer to efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The other choices do not align with the definition of "mitigate." Ignoring a problem would mean overlooking it entirely, while exacerbating a situation refers to making it worse. Discussing something extensively does not involve reducing its severity in any way. Thus, the only option that correctly captures the essence of "mitigate" is making something less severe.