What does the word mitigate imply?

The word "mitigate" means to make something less severe, serious, or painful. By choosing "weaken," it captures the essence of reducing the intensity or impact of a condition or situation. In many contexts, mitigating a problem involves making it more manageable or less acute, which aligns closely with the idea of weakening something's effects or severity.

In contrast, other options suggest the opposite action. For example, "aggravate" denotes making a problem worse, while "strengthen" implies increasing a situation's severity or impact. "Intensify" also indicates an increase in force or degree, further moving away from the concept of reducing severity. Thus, "weaken" is the most appropriate choice as it directly relates to the action of mitigation.