Are you finding it hard to improve your English prowess? Take some time to learn new words daily and improve your vocabulary; you will be on your way to becoming a pro in the language. One word you will love to learn about is “alleviate;” we will discuss the alleviate definition and meaning.
Alleviate: The word alleviate means to lighten one’s load. Use the word to describe something that helps make a tough or excruciating situation bearable or better. Alleviate means to make something more endurable or manageable. Terms like soften, lessen, and relieve are used in place of alleviate.
One thing that makes the English language unique is how one word can have more than one meaning. The same case applies to the word “alleviate.” So continue reading to get the word’s various meanings and ways you can use it in your sentences.
What is the Definition of Alleviate?
Alleviate: The definition of “alleviate” is to make something such as pain or suffering less severe. Use the word when defining something that offers physical relief from pain. This definition is quite common in modern and contemporary health setups.
You can also use the word “alleviate” when talking about something that can free you from burden, respite, or worry. These are things that make a difficult situation like emotional duress bearable.
Here are example sentences:
- The medicine she got in the hospital did nothing to alleviate her pain and suffering.
- You can alleviate your stress as long as you exercise every day.
- The new program by the government aims to alleviate poverty in the next three years.
Alleviate Use in Different Fields
You will come across this word in almost every context. However, most use of the word is in law and business, as explained below.
Alleviate in law: In law, the word alleviate means to present facts to the judge after someone is said to be guilty. The aim is to justify a reduced sentence or have the judge review and do away with the sentencing completely.
Alleviate in business: It means ways to manage business risks. These are strategies that business people use to ensure that they do not suffer a loss.
Comparing Alleviate with Other Words
Alleviate is an easy-to-confuse word, especially with the word mitigate. So, what’s the difference? Let us explain as we learn more comparisons.
Alleviate vs. mitigate: Alleviate means to make pain or difficulty less severe, while mitigating means to decrease, lessen, or reduce something.
Alleviate vs. relief: Alleviate means to make the pain less severe, while relief means completely removing the stress, pain, or discomfort.
Alleviate vs. ameliorate: Alleviate and ameliorate are synonyms with a slight difference. Alleviate means to make it less complicated, while ameliorate means to improve or improve.
Alleviate vs. oppress: Alleviate means to make less severe and is usually about some distress, while oppress is the opposite of the word which means to make gloomy.
Alleviate vs. reduce: Though alleviate and reduce means to make something less, alleviating means reducing something in size and quantity.
Common Word Phrases With Alleviate
These are the common words and phrases you will encounter as you read various texts. They accompany the word alleviate in multiple contexts.
- Alleviate fear
- Alleviate pain
- Alleviate boredom
- Alleviate drought
- Alleviate burden
- Alleviate concern
- Alleviate problem
- Alleviate congestion
What is the Meaning of Alleviate?
Alleviate: To relieve blame and responsibility or help financially or in other ways. Embrace the word “alleviate” when talking about something that comes as help either economically or any other way.
You have probably heard this word in many settings. Whether in the banking sector, at school in various classes, or during day-to-day conversations, the word meaning remains the same, “to relieve or help in a certain way.”
Here are example sentences:
- The new lieutenant said she would work with the police to alleviate traffic congestion.
- The only way to alleviate world terrorism is to educate the youth on the importance of patriotism.
- I do not believe giving them money is the best way to alleviate poverty.
Synonyms of Alleviate
Here are the synonyms. They have the same or near meaning with alleviate.
- Reduce
- Relief
- Assuage
- Diminish
- Dull
- Smooth
- Weaken
- Emasculate
- Still
- Subdue
- Temper
- Slacken
- Deliver
- Dispense
- Rid
- Stop
Antonyms of Alleviate
These words are the opposite of alleviate.
- Exacerbate
- Agitate
- Heighten
- Excite
- Worry
- Trouble
- Intensify
- Sharpen
- Help
- Construct
- Brighten
- Uplift
- Mobilize
- Strain
- Stretch
Rhyming Words of Alleviate
Here is a list of words that have the same sound as alleviate.
- Appreciate
- Meditate
- Deviate
- Abbreviate
- Remediate
- Mediates
- Initiate
- Coordinate
- Officiate
- Conciliate
- Humiliate
- Rotate
- Recreate
- Stipulate
- Captivate
How to Use Alleviate in a Sentence
The word “alleviate” shows something that lessens pain and suffering. It is a verb, and you can use it as a noun, as you will see later in this article.
Remember that when using this word in your sentences, the meaning varies based on context. So, ensure that you know the word’s meaning before using it in your vocabulary.
Is Alleviate a Negative Word?
The word alleviate is not negative. It is a positive word referring to someone, something, or a situation that helps make the pain and suffering more bearable.
What Part of Speech is Alleviate?
The word alleviate is a verb. Verbs are words that show action, occurrence, or state. But that is not all; the word has a broad application as a noun. Below are other parts of the speech.
Alleviation (noun): The feeling that comes when something burdensome gets removed or reduced.
Here are example sentences:
- The Red Cross team came together and put their focus on the alleviation of the refugee’s misery.
- Mary was in search of alleviation and a cure for his dying son.
- Most people turn to alleviation loans when they need money, regretting it later.
Alleviator (noun): A person or a thing that elevates.
Here are example sentences:
- Most people use drugs as an alleviator to help them recover from the harsh reality.
- Aspirin is a great alleviator of headaches.
- Susan, the therapist, is a great alleviator of pain and suffering.
10 Examples of Alleviate in a Sentence
Read sentences below with the word alleviate to help you clearly understand the word. That’s the best way to know how to use the word in your sentences.
- Online loan application has helped alleviate some fraud fears.
- If you experience dizziness or discomfort, you should take medication to help alleviate the situation.
- A natural way to alleviate constipation is to drink lots of water.
- The factory will alleviate the town’s issue of no jobs by hiring 500 employees.
- Visit your grandmother once in a while to alleviate your relationship with her.
- Finding the lost dog will help alleviate lots of problems in the house.
- Simon advised her to use a cold compress to help alleviate her pain.
- These days most scientific research projects aim to alleviate any human body pain.
- The words by her mother did little to alleviate her fears.
- The best way to alleviate pain is to deal with the stressor.
How Do You Spell Alleviate?
The correct way to spell “alleviate” is “A.L.E.V.I.A.T.E.”
Take time to learn how the word is spelled. While you might choose to only use it in your conversation without minding much about the spelling, you will never know when you might be required to spell it. Learn how to spell the word correctly to avoid embarrassing yourself.
How Do You Pronounce Alleviate?
The correct way to pronounce the word “alleviate” is “uh.lee.vee.yet.” When pronouncing this word, pull the second syllable, “lee.” Then finish the last syllables fast.
If you do not know how to pronounce a word, people will have difficulty comprehending what you say each time you use the word. That leads to miscommunications or other issues. Learning the proper way to pronounce this word is not complex as some might think.
How Many Syllables Are In Alleviate?
The word “alleviate” has four syllables divided as “al.le.vi.ate.” The stressed syllable of the word is “le.”
History & Etymology of Alleviate
The word “alleviate” comes from the Latin word “alleviats,” which is the past participle of the word “alleviare.” The word means “lift, raise, or lighten.” It also means “to console or comfort.” It also comes from the Latin word “ad,” which means light in weight.
The PIE root of the word is legwh which means “not heavy or one that has little weight.” The late Lain changed the word and used it as “alleviatus.” That was before the English borrowed the word and introduced it as “alleviate.”
Here is a list of words with the same origin as alleviate.
- Aboard
- Accent
- Ace
- Alien
- Avenue
- Huge
- Appear
- Add
- Address
- Assume
- Rest
- Assure
- Occupy
- Occur
- Relief
Conclusion
The article has discussed the word “alleviate,” its meaning, usage, pronunciation, and spelling. Spare some time to read all the information about this new word. Once you understand the term, create some sentences; make sure you do it right. Practice pronouncing the word too. In a few days, you will have adequate knowledge about every word you learn.
Shawn Manaher is the founder and CEO of The Content Authority. He’s one part content manager, one part writing ninja organizer, and two parts leader of top content creators. You don’t even want to know what he calls pancakes.