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

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

Derived Forms

• ameliorable, adjective
• aˈmelioˌrator, noun
• aˈmeliorative, adjective
• aˈmeliorant, noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of ameliorate¹

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

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

Example Sentences

Fixing the current situation will involve ameliorating their effects and recognizing Haitians as fellow human beings, our neighbors with whom we share a long history.

From Washington Post

His decree for a day of national prayer, fasting and humiliation did little to ameliorate cholera’s lethal spread, but it might have made tens of thousands of Americans feel a bit better before meeting their maker.

From Washington Post

I hope to one day ameliorate these stressors, so that you don’t have to anymore.

From ProPublica

These pro-labor policies did much to ameliorate the wide disparity between rich and poor and led to nearly a half-century of middle-class growth.

From Washington Post

For a few years now, my colleagues and I have been exploring the potential of these networks to find more ways drugs could ameliorate disease.

From Singularity Hub 

He wants to attack the root causes of poverty rather than simply ameliorate root symptoms.

From The Daily Beast

At the time, Bratton sought to ameliorate the tension between the LAPD and Muslims.

From The Daily Beast

Our first priority should be to ameliorate those circumstances.

From The Daily Beast

Scientists therefore have to examine all those genes en masse to cure or ameliorate the disease.

From The Daily Beast

“Isolation itself is very damaging, and there is no way to ameliorate it,” Kupers told The Daily Beast.

From The Daily Beast

Still the King managed to retain his popularity, and in his own way attempted to ameliorate the lot of his subjects.

From Project Gutenberg

And the Church never, never raised a finger to ameliorate their condition.

From Project Gutenberg

That was an evil with which the clergy did not grapple; they would ameliorate it, but did not seek to remove it.

From Project Gutenberg

By the law de provinciis ordinandis, he sought to regulate the provinces and ameliorate their administration.

From Project Gutenberg

Many physicians had exerted their utmost skill in endeavouring to ameliorate his condition.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• alleviate
• lighten
• mitigate

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.