alleviate
verb
al·le·vi·ate
| \ ə-ˈlē-vē-ˌāt
\
\
alleviated;
alleviating;
alleviates
Definition of alleviate
a
: to make (something, such as pain or suffering) more bearable
a drug that alleviates the symptoms using relaxation techniques to alleviate stress To draw customers, [Richard G.] Rosenberg became certified in pedorthics—an area that involves the design, make and modification of shoes to alleviate foot ailments.— Dana Hedgpeth
b
: to partially remove or correct (something undesirable)
government programs to alleviate poverty Enticing retirees into the work force to alleviate the current labor shortage …— Cullen Murphy
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Other Words from alleviate
alleviation
\ -ˌlē-vē-ˈā-shən
\
noun
\
noun
the alleviation of arthritic pain
… the stability of the developed world is as dependent on alleviation of problems in the third world as on the ability to keep the nuclear arms race under control.
— Carl Marcy
alleviator
\ -ˈlē-vē-ˌā-tər
\
noun,
plural alleviators
\
noun,
plural alleviators
… firefighters' camaraderie with the city and with each other is the biggest stress alleviator, [former Boston Fire Commissioner Paul] Christian said.
— Justine Hoffher
Synonyms & Antonyms for alleviate
Synonyms
allay, assuage, ease, help, mitigate, mollify, palliate, relieve, soothe
Antonyms
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Examples of alleviate in a Sentence
For decades, as you probably know, researchers have found that when you tell patients that you're giving them medicine, many report that their symptoms are alleviated, even if they're only taking sugar pills.
— 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
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Recent Examples on the Web
Some say applying ice or taking cold showers might be helpful in alleviating the pain, but there's no medical evidence to support those tips. — Seventeen Editors, Seventeen, "What Is Blue Balls?," 3 Sep. 2019 Helpful both in alleviating pain and in giving pleasure, pot has been wildly popular in the decades since the Single Convention and the drug-control treaties that followed it. — The Economist, "A global revolution in attitudes towards cannabis is under way," 29 Aug. 2019 This routine can be repeated daily to alleviate neck pain and keep your neck loose throughout the day. — Stephanie Mansour, NBC News, "5 stretches that will relieve neck pain and tension," 14 Aug. 2019 From a functional standpoint, core strength can help with good posture and alleviate back pain. — Jenny Mccoy, SELF, "Work Your Entire Core With This Stability Ball Exercise From Celebrity Trainer Astrid Swan," 10 Apr. 2019 Researchers are studying the use of virtual reality to alleviate pain and anxiety during labor, and a handful of doctors and hospitals are already offering it to women. — Andrea Petersen, WSJ, "Virtual Reality May Reduce the Pain of Childbirth," 6 Feb. 2019 And the deep-penetrating radiation has been shown in some small studies to alleviate pain, including muscle soreness and chronic back pain — which, in turn, may improve sleep quality. — Emma Sarran Webster, Teen Vogue, "Kendall Jenner Received an Infrared Sauna for Her Birthday," 13 Nov. 2018 Yoga also helps alleviate lower back pain, in both the short and long term. — Eliza Barclay, Vox, "The growth of yoga and meditation in the US since 2012 is remarkable," 11 Nov. 2018 The sprained ankle of Texans wide receiver Keke Coutee is alleviated a bit by DeAndre Carter. — Aaron Wilson, Houston Chronicle, "DeAndre Carter fills in for Keke Coutee in Texans-Lions game," 17 Aug. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'alleviate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for alleviate
alleviate
verb
English Language Learners Definition of alleviate
: to reduce the pain or trouble of (something) : to make (something) less painful, difficult, or severe
See the full definition for alleviate in the English Language Learners Dictionary
alleviate
verb