Definition of ALLEVIATED

Other Words from alleviate

alleviation \ -ˌlē-vē-ˈā-shən

\ noun

alleviator \ -ˈlē-vē-ˌā-tər

\ noun

Choose the Right Synonym for alleviate

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

Where Does The Word alleviate Come From?

Alleviate derives from the past participle of Late Latin alleviare ("to lighten or relieve"), which in turn was formed by combining the prefix ad- and the adjective "levis," a Latin word meaning "light" or "having little weight." ("Levis" comes from the same ancient word that gave rise to "light" in English.) We acquired "alleviate" in the 15th century, and for the first few centuries the word could mean either "to cause (something) to have less weight" or "to make (something) more tolerable." The literal "make lighter" sense is no longer used, however, so today we have only the "relieve" sense. 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."

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 Where was someone to alleviate this robbery of his life? —“The End of the World” P. 531, THE BOOK THIEF, Markus Zusak, Alfred A. Knopf, N.Y. © 2005 The relationship between king and parliament went nowhere. Bitter speeches were made on both sides, which James’s late attempts at mollification did little to alleviate. —“Four” P. 64, GOD’S SECRETARIES, Adam Nicolson, HarperCollins Publishers Inc., 220.5 N54g ©2003 “I’m feeding a lot of excitement myself.” In fact, I felt an instant euphoria at Kimmery’s alleviating presence. If this was the prospect of Zen I was ready to begin my training. —“One Mind” P. 194, MOTHERLESS BROOKLYN [fiction], Jonathan Lethem, Vintage Books 813.54 L34m (1999) 2001

Recent Examples on the Web

Senior Gentle Aerobics This free program for Plantation residents age 62 and up helps build strength, improve balance and alleviate joint stiffness. 9-9:30 a.m. and 9:35-10:05 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. — Mary Lou Cruz, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Sunrise area events July 18-28," 13 July 2018 During the session, experience sensory deprivation, which proponents say relaxes muscles and alleviates stress. — Zahria Rogers, The Courier-Journal, "Concierge IV hydration therapy service seeks to rehydrate Louisville," 12 July 2018 Public transportation provides alternative options for commuting as well as alleviating traffic congestion, Kaptain said. — Rafael Guerrero, Elgin Courier-News, "Elgin ranks 5th statewide in survey of shortest work commute times," 12 July 2018 Coca leaves can suppress hunger, pain and fatigue, and alleviate the symptoms of altitude sickness. — Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, "How Inca Mummies Helped a Soccer Player Who Was Banned from the World Cup," 29 June 2018 This kind of cooperation can yield poverty-alleviating solutions along with progress across a suite of sustainable development goals. — Paul Arthur Berkman, Scientific American, "Could Science Diplomacy Be the Key to Stabilizing International Relations?," 12 June 2018 Since announcing his run in January, Morganelli has emphasized his efforts on several liberal policy priorities, including gun control, equal pay for women, alleviating student loan debt and increasing access to affordable health care. — Andrew Kaczynski, CNN, "Democratic House candidate in Pennsylvania deletes tweets blasting progressives, praising Trump," 11 May 2018 By boosting the bacteria already living in your gut, probiotics can increase digestive regularity, reduce diarrhea, alleviate symptoms of IBS like gas and bloating, and promote digestive health after taking antibiotics. — Aliza Abarbanel, Bon Appetit, "What’s the Deal with Probiotics and Which Ones Should I Take?," 7 May 2018 Due in part to a grant from the Georgia Public Library Service, the Fayette County Public Library in Fayetteville will soon get some major repairs that will alleviate patron complaints about water leaks and odors. — Jill Howardchurch, ajc, "Renovations planned for Fayette library," 20 June 2018

These 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.