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relieve
transitive verb1 a: to free from a burden : give aid or help to b: to set free from an obligation, condition, or restriction c: to ease of a burden, wrong, or oppression by judicial or legislative interposition2 a: to bring about the removal or alleviation of : mitigate <helps relieve stress> b: rob
, deprive <relieved us of our belongings>3 a: to release from a post, station, or duty b: to take the place of <will relieve the starting pitcher>4: to remove or lessen the monotony of <a park relieves the urban landscape>5 a: to set off by contrast b: to raise in relief6: to discharge the bladder or bowels of (oneself)intransitive verb1: to bring or give relief2: to stand out in relief3: to serve as a relief pitcher
— re·liev·able
\-ˈlē-və-bəl\
adjective synonyms relieve
, alleviate
, lighten
, assuage
, mitigate
, allay mean to make something less grievous. relieve implies a lifting of enough of a burden to make it tolerable <took an aspirin to relieve the pain>. alleviate implies temporary or partial lessening of pain or distress <the lotion alleviated the itching>. lighten implies reducing a burdensome or depressing weight <good news would lighten our worries>. assuage implies softening or sweetening what is harsh or disagreeable <ocean breezes assuaged the intense heat>. mitigate suggests a moderating or countering of the effect of something violent or painful <the need to mitigate barbaric laws>. allay implies an effective calming or soothing of fears or alarms <allayed their fears>.
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