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 There’s no specific treatment for measles, so doctors generally try to alleviate symptoms, prevent complications and keep patients comfortable. Devi Shastri, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2025 Adding both Isaac Paredes and Christian Walker this winter has helped to alleviate the problem, but slugger Yordan Alvarez — who saw 3.56 pitches per plate appearance last season — is seeing 4.20 after 15 games. Chandler Rome, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025 Irish physician William Brooke O’Shaughnessy, after observing its medicinal use in India, introduced cannabis to Western medicine in 1842, advocating its efficacy in alleviating pain and muscle spasms. Matt Rozo, Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2025 The team may want to alleviate some of his workload to help preserve his game. Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for alleviate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alleviate
Verb
  • The latter is more than an inconvenience for obvious reasons, followed by the tragic reality that females must relieve themselves outside in groups as a way of hopefully avoiding rape.
    John Tamny, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Summary Celery has been used throughout history as a folk medicine to relieve many ailments.
    Hannah Coakley, MSPH, RDN, Verywell Health, 21 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • This helps put big companies and small companies on a level playing field.
    Elizabeth Weise, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Diners are invited to join the chef in the kitchen, help prepare the meal and document the experience for social media.
    Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Without Francisco Alvarez for 25 games, New York ranked 16th in wins above replacement behind the plate, its subpar offense (68 wRC+) mitigated by outstanding defense from Luis Torrens and Hayden Senger.
    Tim Britton, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
  • Just like any investment, look at credits across sectors and regions to mitigate risk.
    Jamie Houston, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Meanwhile, aloe leaf, tocopherol, and centella asiatica help to soothe irritation.
    Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 23 Apr. 2025
  • The formula is also infused with a bio-restorative complex that repairs damage and strengthens, lupine flower peptides that deliver amino acids to the cortex to boost keratin to help damaged hair and eucalyptus oil to soothe the senses.
    Celia Shatzman, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The overall unemployment rate for the working-age population in cities eased slightly to 5.2% in March from a two-year high of 5.4% in February.
    Evelyn Cheng,Anniek Bao, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2025
  • This shift acknowledges cannabis’s medical potential and eases some research restrictions.
    Matt Rozo, Mercury News, 28 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Alleviate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alleviate. Accessed 1 May. 2025.

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