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ameliorate

[ uh-meel-yuh-reyt, uh-mee-lee-uh- ]
/ əˈmil yəˌreɪt, əˈmi li ə- /
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See synonyms for: ameliorate / ameliorated / ameliorating / ameliorative on Thesaurus.com

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.
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Also mel·io·rate [meel-yuh-reyt, mee-lee-uh-] /ˈmil yəˌreɪt, ˈmi li ə-/ .

Origin of ameliorate

First recorded in 1770–75; a-5 + meliorate

OTHER WORDS FROM ameliorate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

WHEN TO USE

What are other ways to say ameliorate?

To ameliorate is to make or become better, more bearable, or more satisfactory. How is it different from the verbs improve and better? Find out on Thesaurus.com.

How to use ameliorate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for ameliorate

ameliorate
/ (əˈmiːljəˌreɪt) /

verb
to make or become better; improve

Derived forms of ameliorate

ameliorable (əˈmiːljərəbəl), adjectiveameliorant, nounameliorative, adjectiveameliorator, noun

Word Origin for ameliorate

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
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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