militate

Translation

不利に働く / 妨げる方向に作用する / 影響する

Meaning

Militate almost always appears as militate against, meaning to make something less likely or to count against it. It is formal and common in legal or analytical writing. The learner trap is confusing it with mitigate, which means reduce harm or severity.

Examples

• 証拠の不足は承認に不利に働きました。
  The lack of evidence militated against approval.
• 費用の高さはその計画の採用を妨げる要因になります。
  The high cost militates against adopting the plan.