ALLEVIATE Synonyms: 42 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'alleviate' different from other verbs like it?

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. // the lotion alleviated the itching

Q: When would 'allay' be a good substitute for 'alleviate'?

While the synonyms allay and alleviate are close in meaning, allay implies an effective calming or soothing of fears or alarms. // allayed their fears

Q: When is 'assuage' a more appropriate choice than 'alleviate'?

The meanings of assuage and alleviate largely overlap; however, assuage implies softening or sweetening what is harsh or disagreeable. // ocean breezes assuaged the intense heat

Q: When might 'lighten' be a better fit than 'alleviate'?

While in some cases nearly identical to alleviate , lighten implies reducing a burdensome or depressing weight. // good news would lighten our worries

Q: When is it sensible to use 'mitigate' instead of 'alleviate'?

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 need to mitigate barbaric laws

Q: When can 'relieve' be used instead of 'alleviate'?

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. // took an aspirin to relieve the pain

alleviate

verb

ə-ˈlē-vē-ˌāt

Definition of alleviate next

as in to relieve

to make more bearable or less severe a car pool alleviates some of the stress of driving the kids to and from school every day

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word alleviate different from other verbs like it?

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.

the lotion alleviated the itching

When would allay be a good substitute for alleviate?

While the synonyms allay and alleviate are close in meaning, allay implies an effective calming or soothing of fears or alarms.

allayed their fears

When is assuage a more appropriate choice than alleviate?

The meanings of assuage and alleviate largely overlap; however, assuage implies softening or sweetening what is harsh or disagreeable.

ocean breezes assuaged the intense heat

When might lighten be a better fit than alleviate?

While in some cases nearly identical to alleviate, lighten implies reducing a burdensome or depressing weight.

good news would lighten our worries

When is it sensible to use mitigate instead of alleviate?

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 need to mitigate barbaric laws

When can relieve be used instead of alleviate?

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.

took an aspirin to relieve the pain

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of alleviate By cutting down on imports, relying on vast stockpiles and utilizing more clean energy, China has been able to cushion the impact of higher prices at home, if not alleviate it completely. —

Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 22 June 2026 He was credited with moving quickly to alleviate investors' fears after the crash and was instrumental in ensuring the Federal Reserve made plenty of money available to alleviate the impact on financial markets. —

Patricio Chile, ABC News, 22 June 2026 Wolfley said investments have been poured into increasing cheese production or whey capacity in order to alleviate the shortage. —

Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 21 June 2026 To alleviate these shortages, prisoners supplemented the farm and labor forces at branch camps throughout Arkansas, mostly in the Delta and southern regions. —

Helaine Williams, Arkansas Online, 20 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for alleviate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for alleviate

Verb

Corlys orders his men to thread the rocky Dragonstone pass at low tide, even relieving the helmsman of the ship’s wheel at the crucial moment.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 June 2026
Philip Abner relieved and got the final out of the inning.

— ABC News, ABC News, 21 June 2026

Definition of relieve

Verb

This is the age of dragons; of course there’s effective anti-dragon tech designed to mitigate in-flight threats.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 June 2026
Moore cautioned people with lung issues or smoke sensitivity to avoid outdoor activities, but said crews have mitigated the hazardous-materials portion of the blaze and are now focused on the biohazard portion posed by spoiled food.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 June 2026

Definition of mitigate

Verb

Better yet, soothing ingredients like chamomile flower water and hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid keep skin feeling comfortable, so your complexion looks fresh—not overly matte.

— Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 24 June 2026
The hummingbird rain chain creates a soothing soundtrack on rainy days and makes a beautiful addition to a front porch.

— Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 24 June 2026

Definition of soothe

Verb

Specialized unit built for tight spaces As summer temperatures rise and futbol fever spreads, the department's new bike EMS team is positioned to ease concerns during emergencies.

— Bo Evans, CBS News, 19 June 2026
Amirhosein Khorgooi | Reuters Early signs that the Strait of Hormuz is reopening have eased the most acute threat to global energy supplies, but economic damages from the nearly four months of war will take months to unwind, analysts warned.

— Anniek Bao, CNBC, 19 June 2026