Synonyms of relieve

relieve

verb

ri-ˈlēv 

1

as in to alleviate

to make more bearable or less severe

an ice pack will relieve the swelling

Synonyms & Similar Words

• alleviate
• help
• soothe
• mitigate
• ease
• soften
• allay
• assuage
• heal
• improve
• cure
• mollify
• palliate
• enhance
• remedy
• lighten
• temper
• moderate
• abate
• fix
• ameliorate
• correct
• rectify
• repair
• better
• amend
• perfect
• refine
• enrich
• reform
• mend
• emend
• meliorate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hurt
• impair
• harm
• injure
• aggravate
• exacerbate
• intensify
• heighten
• sharpen

2

as in to rid

to set (a person or thing) free of something that encumbers

the bellhop relieved him of his luggage and led him to the elevator

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rid
• free
• clear
• unburden
• liberate
• divest
• disburden
• disencumber
• loosen
• emancipate
• rescue
• redeem
• enfranchise
• discharge
• release
• extricate
• spring
• loose
• deliver
• unfetter
• manumit
• bail (out)
• unchain
• disengage
• unbind
• disentangle
• uncage

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• burden
• encumber
• saddle
• restrain
• hamper
• subject
• weight (down)
• bog (down)
• fetter
• shackle
• weigh down

3

as in to replace

to take the place of

at daybreak a soldier arrived to relieve the one who had spent the night on guard duty

Synonyms & Similar Words

• replace
• supersede
• supplant
• substitute
• displace
• cut out
• displant
• preempt
• usurp

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of relieve are allay, alleviate, assuage, lighten, and mitigate. While all these words 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

When is it sensible to use allay instead of relieve?

The words allay and relieve can be used in similar contexts, but allay implies an effective calming or soothing of fears or alarms.

allayed their fears

When would alleviate be a good substitute for relieve?

Although the words alleviate and relieve have much in common, alleviate implies temporary or partial lessening of pain or distress.

the lotion alleviated the itching

When could assuage be used to replace relieve?

The synonyms assuage and relieve are sometimes interchangeable, but assuage implies softening or sweetening what is harsh or disagreeable.

ocean breezes assuaged the intense heat

When might lighten be a better fit than relieve?

The words lighten and relieve are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, lighten implies reducing a burdensome or depressing weight.

good news would lighten our worries

When is mitigate a more appropriate choice than relieve?

While in some cases nearly identical to relieve, mitigate suggests a moderating or countering of the effect of something violent or painful.

the need to mitigate barbaric laws

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of relieve

Front-loading your spending may help relieve some stress when the bonus deadline starts looming. — Ryley Amond, CNBC, 14 July 2026

In normal conditions, one dog would have access to both sides of the kennel, with one side used for eating and resting and the other side used for the dog to relieve itself. — Miami Herald, 14 July 2026

Getting those details right is often what determines whether debt relief actually relieves anything. — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 13 July 2026

Top officers such as Caine serve at the pleasure of the president and can be relieved anytime; their jobs are to provide military counsel, not to shape preferred outcomes. — Missy Ryan, The Atlantic, 10 July 2026