Synonyms: improvement, advance, recovery, amendment More Synonyms of ameliorate
ameliorate in British English
(əˈmiːljəˌreɪt)
verb
to make or become better; improve
▶ USAGE Ameliorate is often wrongly used where alleviate is meant. Ameliorate is properly used to mean 'improve', not 'make easier to bear', so one should talkabout alleviating pain or hardship, not ameliorating it
Derived forms
ameliorable (əˈmiːljərəbəl)
adjective
ameliorant (aˈmeliorant)
noun
ameliorative (aˈmeliorative)
adjective
ameliorator (aˈmelioˌrator)
noun
Word origin
C18: from meliorate, influenced by French améliorer to improve, from Old French ameillorer to make better, from meillor better, from Latin melior
ameliorate in American English
(əˈmiljəˌreɪt)
verb transitive, verb intransitiveWord forms: aˈmelioˌrated or aˈmelioˌrating
< Fr améliorer < OFr ameillorer < a-, to + meillor < L melior, better
Examples of 'ameliorate' in a sentence
ameliorate
She had lit a host of candles around her, as though their light might ameliorate the cruelty of the hour.
Clive Barker SACRAMENT (2001)
Grace looked lovely and composed; I sensed in her a desire to ameliorate the apparent darkness of my mood.
Parker, T. Jefferson SUMMER OF FEAR (2001)
(verb)
Definition
to make (something) better
Nothing can be done to ameliorate the situation.
Synonyms
improve
He improved their house.
better
Our parents came here with the hope of bettering themselves.
benefit
a variety of government schemes benefiting children
reform
his plans to reform the country's economy
advance
The country has advanced from a rural society to an industrial power.
promote
I was promoted to editor and then editorial director.
amend
The committee put forward proposals to amend the penal system.
elevate
He was elevated to the post of Prime Minister.
raise
a new drive to raise standards of literacy in Britain's schools
mend
There will be disciplinary action if you do not mend your ways.
mitigate
make better
assuage
meliorate
Usage note
Ameliorate is sometimes confused with alleviate but the words are not synonymous. Ameliorate comes ultimately from the Latin for `better', and means `to improve'. The nouns it typically goes with are condition and situation. Alleviate means `to lessen', and frequently occurs with poverty, suffering, pain, symptoms, and effects. Occasionally ameliorate is used with effects and poverty where the other verb may be more appropriate.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of advance
The country has advanced from a rural society to an industrial power.
Synonyms
improve,
rise,
grow,
develop,
reform,
pick up,
progress,
thrive,
upgrade,
multiply,
prosper,
make strides
in the sense of amend
Definition
to make small changes to something such as a piece of writing or a contract, in order to improve it
The committee put forward proposals to amend the penal system.
Synonyms
change,
improve,
reform,
fix,
correct,
repair,
edit,
alter,
enhance,
update,
revise,
modify,
remedy,
rewrite,
mend,
rectify,
tweak (informal),
ameliorate,
redraw,
rebrand,
better
in the sense of benefit
Definition
to do or receive good
a variety of government schemes benefiting children