ameliorate
[ uh-meel-yuh-reyt, uh-mee-lee-uh- ]
/ əˈmil yəˌreɪt, əˈmi li ə- /
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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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The rainy weather could not ________ my elated spirits on my graduation day.
Also meliorate .
OTHER WORDS FROM ameliorate
Words nearby ameliorate
âme damnée, AMEDS, ameer, ameiosis, amelia, ameliorate, amelioration, ameloblast, ameloblastic fibroma, ameloblastic fibrosarcoma, ameloblastic layer
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
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.
Example sentences from the Web for ameliorate
British Dictionary definitions for ameliorate
ameliorate
/ (əˈmiːljəˌreɪt) /
verb
to make or become better; improve
Derived forms of ameliorate
ameliorable (əˈmiːljərəbəl), adjectiveameliorant, nounameliorative, adjectiveameliorator, nounWord 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
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