Words / C1

uh-LEEV-ee-ayt/əˈliːvieɪt/

To alleviate is to make pain, pressure, or a problem less severe — not to remove it entirely. Ease and relieve are everyday cousins; mitigate is a close academic synonym, often for risk and harm. You alleviate poverty, congestion, anxiety. Alleviation is a rarer noun. In speech, take the edge off or ease is more natural; alleviate belongs in reports and careful essays.

Meaning

To make pain, a problem, or suffering less severe.

Examples

• “A short break can alleviate stress before an exam.”
• “A second marker helped alleviate the backlog, not clear it.”
• “The grant will not fix housing, but it may alleviate the worst overcrowding.”

Good to know

alleviate pain/poverty/pressure. Less severe, not gone. Everyday: ease / relieve. Close: mitigate.

Near in meaning

ease

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