verb (used with or without object),a·mel·io·rat·ed,a·mel·io·rat·ing.
to make or become better, more bearable, or more satisfactory; improve: strategies to ameliorate negative effects on the environment.
Also meliorate .
Origin of ameliorate
First recorded in 1770–75; a-5 + meliorate
SYNONYMS FOR ameliorate
amend, better.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR ameliorate ON THESAURUS.COM
ANTONYMS FOR ameliorate
vitiate, worsen.
SEE ANTONYMS FOR ameliorate ON THESAURUS.COM
synonym study for ameliorate
See improve.
OTHER WORDS FROM ameliorate
a·mel·io·ra·ble,adjectivea·mel·io·ra·ble·ness,nouna·mel·io·rant,nouna·mel·io·ra·tive,a·mel·io·ra·to·ry[uh-meel-yer-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, uh-mee-lee-uh-], /əˈmil yər əˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i, əˈmi li ə-/, adjective
Using technology to ameliorate the burden of technology surrounding our new remote-working lives is a great example of a grafting on a solution after the fact.
The case for a virtual commute when working from home|Adam Lashinsky|October 1, 2020|Fortune
Moynihan used social science research to reveal the failures of civil rights laws to ameliorate economic and racial inequality.
Can science help create a more just society?|Nancy Shute|July 4, 2020|Science News
At the time, Bratton sought to ameliorate the tension between the LAPD and Muslims.
Was it Justice or Politics that Killled the NYPD Muslim Spy Unit?|Azi Paybarah|April 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Our first priority should be to ameliorate those circumstances.
How Much Does 'Culture' Matter for 'Inner-City' Poverty?|Jamelle Bouie|March 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Scientists therefore have to examine all those genes en masse to cure or ameliorate the disease.
The Supremes Get It Right, Naturally.|Sam Kean|June 14, 2013|DAILY BEAST
“Isolation itself is very damaging, and there is no way to ameliorate it,” Kupers told The Daily Beast.
Extreme Solitary Confinement: What Did Bradley Manning Experience?|Caitlin Dickson|June 5, 2013|DAILY BEAST
How can you determine the facts, spin the story, and attempt to ameliorate the damage?
Crisis-Management Experts Weigh In on How to Handle Petraeus Scandal|Sandra McElwaine|November 14, 2012|DAILY BEAST
But it did not ameliorate his attitude toward the visit of Keith Senior.
Rimrock Trail|J. Allan Dunn
We were told it was hopeless to make any effort to ameliorate his lot—his case was too desperate.
Wild Spain (Espaa agreste)|Abel Chapman
Still the King managed to retain his popularity, and in his own way attempted to ameliorate the lot of his subjects.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
No submission could ameliorate his temper, no opposition lend asperity to his voice.
Old and New London|Walter Thornbury
An oil facility was formed to ameliorate the reverberating economic shock waves.
C18: from meliorate, influenced by French améliorer to improve, from Old French ameillorer to make better, from meillor better, from Latin melior
usage for ameliorate
Ameliorate is often wrongly used where alleviate is meant. Ameliorate is properly used to mean `improve', not `make easier to bear', so one should talk about alleviating pain or hardship, not ameliorating it