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View synonyms for ameliorate

ameliorate

[ uh-meel-yuh-reyt, uh-mee-lee-uh- ]

verb (used with or without object)

, a·mel·io·rat·ed, a·mel·io·rat·ing.
  1. to make or become better, more bearable, or more satisfactory; improve:

    strategies to ameliorate negative effects on the environment.

    Synonyms: better, amend

    Antonyms: worsen, vitiate



ameliorate

/ əˈmiːljəˌreɪt; əˈmiːljərəbəl /

verb

  1. to make or become better; improve
“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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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 talk about alleviating pain or hardship, not ameliorating it
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Derived Forms

  • ameliorable, adjective
  • aˈmelioˌrator, noun
  • aˈmeliorative, adjective
  • aˈmeliorant, noun
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Other Words From

  • a·mel·io·ra·ble adjective
  • a·mel·io·ra·ble·ness noun
  • a·mel·io·rant noun
  • a·mel·io·ra·tive a·mel·io·ra·to·ry [uh, -, meel, -yer-, uh, -tawr-ee, uh, -, mee, -lee-, uh, -], adjective
  • a·mel·io·ra·tor noun
  • un·a·mel·io·ra·ble adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of ameliorate1

First recorded in 1770–75; a- 5 + meliorate
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Word History and Origins

Origin of ameliorate1

C18: from meliorate , influenced by French améliorer to improve, from Old French ameillorer to make better, from meillor better, from Latin melior
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Example Sentences

In the correct dosages, inducing the Yamanaka factors throughout the body in rodents can ameliorate the hallmarks of aging by mimicking the adaptability that is common to more youthful cells.

Research efforts to ameliorate or even completely abolish this have given rise to technologies that show a lot of promise.

But they are trying to ameliorate their actions with their words, insisting too that the decision is a matter of “deep regret.”

From BBC

"You're also going to see a detriment to other important functions for norepinephrine that you don't want to see. Targeting these neurons more specifically could help to ameliorate that."

“But we have seen efforts by predominantly white legislatures to use race to ameliorate the harms from the past,” Ross said.

From Salon

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Related Words

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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.

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