mitigate

This term describes the act of softening a blow or reducing the intensity of a negative situation. It carries a professional and formal tone, often appearing in legal, environmental, or corporate contexts where a problem cannot be entirely eliminated but can be managed to minimize damage. In legal settings, it specifically refers to the process of presenting extenuating circumstances to lower a penalty. It differs from "solve" or "eliminate" because it acknowledges that the core issue remains, but its impact is lessened.