mitigate
to make less severe
The robber’s escape was foiled when he was met at the gate by cops. His
sentence was mitigated, however, when he offered the cops donuts.
modicum
little bit
When Lady Gaga was just a child, she began to show a modicum of talent, and
instead of calling her mother, she would sing “Muduh, come!”
monotonous
always at the same pitch; boring; repetitious
This word is easy if you break it up into its parts:
The concerto played on the one-keyed piano was monotonous.