To alleviate something means to reduce or ease it, especially pain, suffering, or difficulty. This verb is often used in medical, emotional, and social contexts, and implies making a tough situation more bearable without necessarily eliminating the cause.
Definition
Alleviate (verb):
To make (suffering, deficiency, or a problem) less severe; to relieve or ease.
Examples in Context
- “The new medication helped alleviate his chronic back pain.”
- “Volunteers worked to alleviate hunger in the remote villages.”
- “Her kind words helped alleviate his anxiety before the interview.”
Origin
Alleviate comes from the Latin alleviare, meaning “to lighten” or “to lift.” It combines ad- (“to”) with levare (“to lighten or raise”), suggesting a lifting of weight or burden. It has been part of English since the 15th century.
Common Usage Areas
- Medical: To alleviate symptoms, pain, or discomfort.
- Social: To alleviate poverty, stress, or hardship.
- Emotional: To alleviate grief, fear, or tension through support or communication.
Synonyms
- Relieve
- Ease
- Soothe
- Diminish
- Lessen
- Mitigate
Antonyms
- Aggravate
- Exacerbate
- Intensify
- Heighten
Conclusion
To alleviate is to help, to lighten the load, and to provide comfort—even if only temporarily. It’s a word rooted in compassion and action, often signaling the first step toward healing or improvement.