alleviate
verb
transitive verb
Dana Hedgpeth Cullen Murphy Carl Marcy Justine Hoffher 
Did you know?
Where does the word alleviate come from?
Now for a bit of light reading. Alleviate comes from Latin levis, meaning "having little weight." (Levis also gave rise to the English adjective light, as in "not heavy.") In its early days, alleviate could mean "to cause (something) to have less weight" or "to make (something) more tolerable." The literal "make lighter" sense is no longer used, and today only the "relieve" sense remains. Incidentally, not only is alleviate a synonym of relieve, it's also a cousin; relieve comes from levare ("to raise"), which in turn comes from levis.
Synonyms
- allay
- assuage
- ease
- help
- mitigate
- mollify
- palliate
- relieve
- soothe
Example Sentences
Daniel Zwerdling, Gourmet, August 2004 Granholm has spent the morning giving a major public address on state finance issues, courting local officials in meetings, and, in between, talking with me. We'd discussed the state of the Michigan economy and her ideas for developing a new high-tech corridor outside Detroit that focuses on homeland security innovation; we went over her ideas for alleviating overcrowding in the state's emergency rooms. Jonathan Cohn, New Republic, 14 Oct. 2002 When applied in ointment form, capsaicin helps alleviate the discomfort of arthritis and psoriasis. Taken internally as a diluted tincture, it helps keep the blood flowing smoothly and strengthens the cardiovascular system. Nina Simonds, Gourmet, September 2002 Ridley, a British journalist with a doctoral degree in zoology, does touch on the incredible potential of genetics for alleviating human misery. … But much of his remarkable book is focused on a higher plane of pure intellectual discovery. Lee M. Silver, New York Times Book Review, 27 Feb. 2000 Before discussing what must be done to alleviate the environmental and social crises afflicting the globe, Chief Oren Lyons … of the Turtle Clan of the Onondaga Nation, wanted to drive to a gym in Syracuse, New York, and watch his son shadowbox. Paul Schneider, Audubon, March/April 1994 finding ways to alleviate stress a car pool alleviates some of the stress of driving the kids to and from school every day See More Adam J. White, National Review, 25 Aug. 2022 When fuel prices hit record highs earlier this summer, Biden and Bezos publicly argued about whether fuel retailers could alleviate the pressure on consumers by reducing markups at the pump. Alex Kinnier, Fortune, 9 Aug. 2022 Second, there also seems no doubt that one time or temporary payments don’t alleviate the underlying issues, lower wages and higher costs. Roger Valdez, Forbes, 3 Aug. 2022 Research suggests that having even one close friend can alleviate the negative effects of loneliness on health and well-being. Dan Ariely, WSJ, 16 June 2022 Prosecutors say Atwood can alleviate pain caused by lying on his back by propping himself up with a pillow and using the tilt function on the execution table. Jacques Billeaud, The Arizona Republic, 4 June 2022 Studies have shown that participating in music and art can alleviate pain, help people manage stress, promote wellness, enhance memory, improve communications, aid physical rehabilitation, and give people a way to express their feelings. Sara M Moniuszko, USA TODAY, 25 May 2022 As a new parliament is set to be sworn in, Lebanese citizens openly question whether new politicians can alleviate the country’s many economic and political woes. Charbel Mallo, CNN, 17 May 2022 The new center will also alleviate wait times for law enforcement officers, Crego said. al, 7 May 2022 See More Word History
Late Latin alleviatus, past participle of alleviare, from Latin ad- + levis light — more at light
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
alleviate
verb
Medical Definition
alleviate
transitive verb
alleviate
verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- relieve
- mitigate
- help
- ease
- soothe
- allay
- soften
- assuage
- cure
- improve
- heal
- remedy
- mollify
- palliate
- enhance
- lighten
- ameliorate
- moderate
- temper
- rectify
- abate
- correct
- fix
- repair
- better
- reform
- enrich
- perfect
- amend
- refine
- mend
- meliorate
- emend
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- exacerbate
- aggravate
- impair
- hurt
- harm
- injure
- intensify
- heighten
- sharpen
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of alleviate are allay, assuage, lighten, mitigate, and relieve. While all these words mean "to make something less grievous," alleviate implies temporary or partial lessening of pain or distress.
While the synonyms allay and alleviate are close in meaning, allay implies an effective calming or soothing of fears or alarms.
The meanings of assuage and alleviate largely overlap; however, assuage implies softening or sweetening what is harsh or disagreeable.
While in some cases nearly identical to alleviate, lighten implies reducing a burdensome or depressing weight.
In some situations, the words mitigate and alleviate are roughly equivalent. However, mitigate suggests a moderating or countering of the effect of something violent or painful.
The words relieve and alleviate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, relieve implies a lifting of enough of a burden to make it tolerable.