Synonym Chooser

How is the word ameliorate distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of ameliorate are better, help, and improve. While all these words mean "to make more acceptable or to bring nearer a standard," ameliorate implies making more tolerable or acceptable conditions that are hard to endure.

tried to ameliorate the lives of people in the tenements

When is help a more appropriate choice than ameliorate?

The meanings of help and ameliorate largely overlap; however, help implies a bettering that still leaves room for improvement.

a coat of paint would help that house

How are the words improve and better related as synonyms of ameliorate?

Both improve and better are general and interchangeable and apply to what can be made better whether it is good or bad.

measures to further improve the quality of medical care
immigrants hoping to better their lot

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 ameliorate Of course, with so many personnel across the agency already gone, some damage can’t be undone, but it will be greatly ameliorated. Mike Hirschberg, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025 My silence felt like cowardice, stemming from a fear of alienation, of feeling unsafe—exactly what the ADL, unironically, pledges to ameliorate in school settings. Sahar Mustafah august 27, Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2025 In the painful but necessary 2013 closings, no effort was made to replace shuttered schools that had served as neighborhood anchors or to ameliorate the harmful effects of closings. Forrest Claypool, Chicago Tribune, 10 July 2025 Moving to multicore processors helped ameliorate that issue for a time. IEEE Spectrum, 24 May 2023 See All Example Sentences for ameliorate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ameliorate
Verb
  • These mini-workouts break up long periods of sitting and may improve heart and muscle health, especially for inactive adults.
    Simon Spichak, Health, 22 Oct. 2025
  • That money is being taken away from habitat management, stocking and improving fisheries for anglers.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The research team revealed that the findings of the study offer new insights into enhancing the performance of electrochemical systems, including batteries, fuel cells, and sensors.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Some of these technologies are essential for ensuring the proper functioning of the service or website and cannot be disabled, while others are optional but serve to enhance the user experience in various ways.
    Walden Green, Pitchfork, 24 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ameliorate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ameliorate. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.

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