relieve | Definition of relieve

Synonyms and Antonyms of relieve

1 to make more bearable or less severe

an ice pack will relieve the swelling

Synonyms of relieve

allay, alleviate, assuage, ease, help, mitigate, mollify, palliate, soothe

Words Related to relieve

abate, lighten, moderate, soften, temper

cure, heal, remedy

amend, correct, emend, fix, mend, rectify, reform, repair

ameliorate, better, enhance, enrich, improve, meliorate, perfect, refine

Near Antonyms of relieve

harm, hurt, impair, injure

heighten, intensify, sharpen

Antonyms of relieve

aggravate, exacerbate

2 to set (a person or thing) free of something that encumbers

the bellhop relieved him of his luggage and led him to the elevator

Synonyms of relieve

clear, disburden, disencumber, divest, free, rid, unburden

Words Related to relieve

discharge, emancipate, enfranchise, liberate, loose, loosen, manumit, release, spring, unbind, uncage, unchain, unfetter

bail (out), deliver, redeem, rescue

disengage, disentangle, extricate

Near Antonyms of relieve

bog (down), fetter, hamper, restrain, shackle, subject, weigh down, weight (down)

Antonyms of relieve

burden, encumber, saddle

3 to take the place of

at daybreak a soldier arrived to relieve the one who had spent the night on guard duty

Synonyms of relieve

cut out, displace, displant, replace, substitute, supersede, supplant

Words Related to relieve