Which one of the following options is the closest in meaning to the word given below?
Mitigate
A. Diminish B. Divulge C. Dedicate D. Denote
GATE 2012 · General Aptitude · Synonyms · easy
Answer: A. Diminish
Define the target word: 'Mitigate' means to lessen the gravity, seriousness, or painfulness of something. It is commonly used in phrases like 'mitigate risk' or 'mitigate suffering'.
Check each option: A. Diminish = to make smaller or less; strongly overlaps with mitigate. B. Divulge = to reveal a secret; no connection to mitigate. C. Dedicate = to commit or devote; no connection to mitigate. D. Denote = to stand for or represent; no connection to mitigate.
Confirm selection: Option A (Diminish) is the closest synonym to 'Mitigate'.