mediate 1 of 2

adjective

ˈmē-dē-ət How to pronounce mediate (audio)
Definition of mediatenext
as in halfway
occupying a position equally distant from the ends or extremes has a black-and-white view of human nature, believing that there is no mediate state between good and evil

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

mediate

2 of 2

verb

ˈmē-dē-ˌāt How to pronounce mediate (audio)
as in to intervene
to act as a go-between for opposing sides their middle child is often asked to mediate between the oldest and the youngest

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word mediate different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of mediate are intercede, interfere, interpose, and intervene. While all these words mean "to come or go between," mediate implies intervening between hostile factions.

mediated between the parties

When could intercede be used to replace mediate?

The words intercede and mediate can be used in similar contexts, but intercede implies acting for an offender in begging mercy or forgiveness.

interceded on our behalf

When would interfere be a good substitute for mediate?

The synonyms interfere and mediate are sometimes interchangeable, but interfere implies hindering.

noise interfered with my concentration

When is it sensible to use interpose instead of mediate?

Although the words interpose and mediate have much in common, interpose often implies no more than this.

interposed herself between him and the door

When can intervene be used instead of mediate?

While the synonyms intervene and mediate are close in meaning, intervene may imply an occurring in space or time between two things or a stepping in to stop a conflict.

quarreled until the manager intervened

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of mediate
Adjective
His involvement with Habitat for Humanity, and his work around the world to eradicate disease, mediate conflict and monitor elections all give testament to a godly life lived well. —Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 1 Jan. 2026 Trump thanks Qatar, Egypt and Turkey for helping mediate peace talks President Donald Trump thanked Qatar, Egypt and Turkey for helping mediate the talks between Israel and Hamas that led to the breakthrough. —Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
Viruses commonly mediate horizontal gene transfer in microbial communities, which would be similar to this sort of scenario. —ArsTechnica, 11 June 2026 Efforts to mediate a deal continued. —Arkansas Online, 11 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for mediate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mediate
  1. halfway
  2. intervene
  3. middle
  4. interfere
  5. intermediary
  6. medial
  7. central
  8. median
Adjective
  • Rue’s death comes just 45 minutes into the finale, around the halfway point.
    — Katie Campione, Deadline, 1 June 2026
  • Playing all the way out of the back, defender Alex Freeman weighted a perfect pass to Pepi across the halfway line and the striker charged forward, drawing the Senegalese defense once again.
    — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 31 May 2026
Definition of halfway
Verb
  • Mayor Vi Lyles, who plans to resign as soon as an appointment is made, rarely intervenes when discussion goes awry and often loses track of motions.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 15 June 2026
  • Whether the High Court ultimately intervenes remains to be seen.
    — Tom Zirpoli, Baltimore Sun, 15 June 2026
Definition of intervene
Adjective
  • While on the road - Opt for the middle lanes and remain on higher ground.
    — KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT, Kansas City Star, 14 June 2026
  • While on the road - Opt for the middle lanes and remain on higher ground.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 13 June 2026
Definition of middle
Verb
  • The Kennedy Center’s leadership argued in its appeal Friday that the renovation was badly needed and accused the lower court, in terms that seemed similar to Trump’s speech patterns, of interfering in the effort.
    — Steven Sloan, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2026
  • But a thing called the Civil War interfered.
    — Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 12 June 2026
Definition of interfere
Adjective
  • That can reduce certain intermediary risks.
    — Sean Lee, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
  • Meanwhile, cheaper intermediary goods from China helped boost manufacturing productivity, resulting in a 50% increase in real manufacturing value added from 2001 to 2024.
    — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 10 May 2026
Definition of intermediary
Adjective
  • If you have been bitten or scratched by any stray animals or an animal suspected to have rabies, seek medial care immediately and let your provider know about the possible exposure.
    — Dan Raby, CBS News, 1 June 2026
  • Thick rope laces and leather sockliners further separate the pairs from standard Air Force 1s, while custom Oregon embroidery appears on both the lateral and medial sides.
    — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 17 May 2026
Definition of medial
Adjective
  • Located in central downtown, close to White River State Park, Military Park, and the wildly underrated Eiteljorg Museum, the JW Marriott is the perfect place to explore Indy for the first time.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 June 2026
  • The measure performed best in central and west Davis, continuing the pattern established on election night.
    — Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 17 June 2026
Definition of central
Adjective
  • Affordable housing is usually for people making up to 80% of the area’s median income, and workforce housing is usually for people making up to 120%.
    — Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 12 June 2026
  • Livability reports that the median home value in Carmel is $477,625, while the median monthly rent is $1,457.
    — Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 12 June 2026
Definition of median

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Mediate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mediate. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on mediate

Nglish: Translation of mediate for Spanish Speakers

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