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 Facing mounting flight disruptions at Newark Liberty International Airport, United Airlines is urging the Federal Aviation Administration to reinstate flight caps to alleviate congestion and improve safety. Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 9 May 2025 Some would be sold with the express purpose of alleviating housing affordability. Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 7 May 2025 The result is often a child who takes on too much responsibility, sacrificing their own childhood to help alleviate the stress their parent is experiencing. Lia Miller, Parents, 1 May 2025 Starbucks is also using new technology to alleviate staffing bottlenecks and speed pickup times for mobile orders. Kevin Williams, Quartz, 29 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for alleviate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alleviate
Verb
  • Both federal and local initiatives could help spur more homebuilding, helping relieve the affordability crunch in many regions, Evangelou said.
    Anne Marie D. Lee, CBS News, 15 May 2025
  • Consult a healthcare provider if dietary changes do not relieve constipation symptoms.
    Jamie Johnson, Verywell Health, 15 May 2025
Verb
  • By continuously observing and analyzing these data, these systems generate personalized interventions designed to help users manage times of mental strain.
    Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 16 May 2025
  • To partially offset the lost revenue, Republicans propose repealing or phasing out more quickly the clean energy tax credits passed during Joe Biden’s presidency, helping to bring down the overall cost of the tax portion to about $3.8 trillion.
    Kevin Freking, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2025
Verb
  • The trillions in investment that the world needs to mitigate and adapt to climate change will come in forms that might otherwise be classified broadly as infrastructure, venture capital, or private equity.
    Justin Worland, Time, 10 May 2025
  • These observational networks are the factual basis upon which all efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change are based.
    Eric Morgan, Wired News, 10 May 2025
Verb
  • Celebrate this soothing herb with live music, seminars, demos, workshops, farm tours and other activities on the Western Slope.
    Sarah Kuta, Denver Post, 14 May 2025
  • Lighting fixtures are inspired by the Indian tradition of hair oiling, a chair is meant to soothe anxiety and wall art is made of construction materials tied to a childhood memory.
    Anna Kodé, New York Times, 14 May 2025
Verb
  • The most immediate focus is expected to be easing the punishing tariffs that have brought U.S.-China trade in sectors such as consumer electronics, agriculture, and industrial goods to a standstill.
    Shannon Carroll, Quartz, 9 May 2025
  • Now, that seems to be easing, amid a shifting interest-rate environment and new approaches to game-making, as numerous speakers at the recent Los Angeles Games Conference detailed.
    David Bloom, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Alleviate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alleviate. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

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